780.5/4–554: Telegram
No. 202
The Ambassador in Iraq (Berry) to the
Department of State1
590. Nuri described the Pakistan Army as admirable, the military training excellent, and an ammunition factory that he saw first class. He said the King, the “Regent” and he were all delighted with the visit.2
When I asked him if what he had learned about the Pakistan–Turkish pact had reassured him, he said “The Regent and I are 100 percent for it, and of course, the King”. Then when I said that under such circumstances Iraq would likely be planning to join the [Page 492] pact, he looked shrewdly at me and said, “you planned that from the beginning for how else could Pakistan assist Turkey except through Iraq?”
He continued, “of course we will join but first we have to meet the problem of neutralizing Middle Eastern public opinion on the Palestine issue”. He argued that, since Israel feels confidence in its own strength, the tripartite declarations should be a sufficient guarantee to Israel against an Arab aggression. However, since the Arabs States really do not feel so confident of their strength, they need something more. Thus, for example, if they felt that Pakistan was with them against any aggressor, they could feel secure and such a feeling was a prime necessity for discussing peace with Israel.
Nuri said that Middle Eastern peace and the Turk–Pakistan pact are complementary one to the other and in getting forward with one we are really getting ahead with both. With this in mind he suggested to the Pakistanis that for Iraq to adhere, two modifications should be made in the pact. First, in the preamble, Article 51 of the Charter should be put forward more prominently. He commented that the Arabs constantly complain of the United Nations but they really liked it. Secondly, Article 4, paragraph C of the amended pact should say that an unprovoked attack on Iraq or its neighbors would bring the military aspect of the pact into play. This would mean a greater security for Turkey as under this wording, if Turkey were attacked by the USSR, Iraq could immediately move. It would give the necessary security to Iraq, and at the same time remove the concern of other Arab States over Iraq adherence for they would read into it that an unprovoked Israel attack against Syria would bring Pakistan to the aid of the Arabs.
The Pakistanis said that they were willing to make these changes but the suggestion to make them should come from the United States to Turkey and Pakistan.
Nuri concluded that he was making to me his first report of these conversations and he hoped that if the US were interested in seeing Iraq join the pact, and peace to come to the Middle East, we would give prompt consideration to the suggestion.