Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 2

787.5 MSP/10–1052

No. 1384
The Director for Mutual Security (Harriman) to the Secretary of State

top secret

Washington, October 10, 1952.

Dear Mr. Secretary: I refer to a letter of October 1, 1952,¹ signed by Mr. Edwin Martin, with attachments, in which the Department of State forwarded a joint recommendation by the Departments of State and of Defense that Iraq be determined eligible for reimbursable military assistance under Section 408(e)(1)(c) of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949, as amended.

This recommendation is based on a joint conclusion by the Departments concerned that Iraq’s ability to defend itself and to participate in the defense of the area of which it is a part, is important to the security of the United States. This conclusion, with which I concur, meets the statutory requirements for eligibility for reimbursable military assistance. Accordingly, I hereby find and determine, under the authority delegated to me by Executive Order No. 10300, dated November 1, 1951,² that Iraq is eligible to receive reimbursable military assistance under Section 408(e)(1)(c) of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949, as amended. In making this determination, I note and agree with the conclusion by the Departments of State and of Defense that any military equipment furnished to Iraq should consist of noncompetitive items under existing priorities which do not interfere with current United States domestic or Mutual Defense Assistance programs.

I assume that the Department of State will obtain the necessary assurances from the Government of Iraq,³ as provided for in Section 408(e) and will consult with the Office of the Director for Mutual Security in the process of formulating any documents which will be used for this purpose. I further request that this Office be advised sufficiently in advance of the actual shipment of any equipment to Iraq so that appropriate letters can go forward to interested Congressional Committees.

I am sending an identical letter to the Secretary of Defense.

Sincerely yours,

W. A. Harriman

1. Not printed; it transmitted copies of the June 20 letter from the Secretary of State to the Secretary of Defense and the Sept. 6 letter from the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of State, Document 1382. The letter noted that the Departments of State and Defense agreed that any military equipment furnished to Iraq should consist of noncompetitive items under existing priorities, which did not interfere with current U.S. or Mutual Defense Assistance programs. (787.5 MSP/9–652)
2. Reference is to Executive Order 10300, Providing for the Mutual Security Act of 1951 and Related Statutes, Nov. 1, 1951. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, Nov. 19, 1951, pp. 826–827, or American Foreign Policy, 1950–1955: Basic Documents, vol. II, pp. 3086–3088.
3. Telegram 436 to Baghdad, Oct. 17, informed the Embassy of the decision by the Director for Mutual Security. It advised the Embassy to inform the Iraqis that there would be a time lag in delivery of the items involved; and in any case it would not be possible for Iraq to purchase large quantities of equipment, both because of the scarcity of material and the effect of such purchases on the stability of the Near East. (787.5 MSP/10–1732)