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

787.5 MSP/3–454

No. 1407
Memorandum of Understanding Between the Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom, Initialed at Washington, February 26, 1954 ¹

secret

Washington , February 26, 1954

Memorandum of Understanding Concerning the Provision of Military Aid to Iraq by the Government of the United States

Representatives of the Governments of the United States and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland met in Washington on February 26, 1954, to discuss the provision by the Government of the United States of military aid to Iraq. Having regard to the Provisions of paragraph 6 of the Annexure to the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of Alliance of 1930, which state:

“In view of the desirability of identity in training and methods between the Iraq and British Armies, His Majesty the King of Iraq undertakes that, should he deem it necessary to have recourse to foreign military instructors, these shall be chosen from amongst British subjects.

“He further undertakes that any personnel of his forces that may be sent abroad for military training will be sent to military schools, colleges and training centres in the territories of His Britannic Majesty, provided that this shall not prevent him from sending to any other country such personnel as cannot be received in the said institutions and training centres.

“He further undertakes that the armament and essential equipment of his Forces shall not differ in type from those of the Forces of His Britannic Majesty.”

They drew up the following statement setting out their common understanding of the principles to be followed by the two Governments.

1. The United States Government will as far as possible coordinate their military aid to Iraq with the plans already agreed between the Governments of the United Kingdom and Iraq, pursuant to the above-mentioned Treaty, for the expansion and re-equipment of the Iraqi forces.

2. The United States Government will impress upon the Iraqi Government that any arms and training the United States Government may provide will be complementary to the arms and training supplied by the United Kingdom Government, and that the Iraqi Government should continue to look primarily to the United Kingdom Government for both types of assistance.

3. In formulating any program of arms assistance to Iraq, the United States Government will give due weight to the following considerations:

a. the desirability of avoiding dislocations in the existing reequipment and expansion plans of the Iraqi forces, and of minimizing logistic difficulties;

b. the possibility of furthering the above objective by means of off-shore purchases in the United Kingdom;

c. the desirability that there should be a readily identifiable United States contribution to the expansion of the Iraqi forces.

4. In order to effect an appropriate application of the considerations stated in 3 above, the United States Government will confer with the United Kingdom.²

5. The United Kingdom Government will retain its responsibility for directing the training and organization of the Iraqi forces. With due consideration for this responsibility and after conferring with the United Kingdom Government, the United States Government may accept some Iraqi candidates for training in military schools in the United States.

6. The United States Government will station in Iraq a Military Assistance Advisory Group, which will be charged with carrying out United States responsibilities in accordance with applicable Mutual Security legislation and any Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement concluded with Iraq.

7. The United States Military Assistance Advisory Group and the appropriate British Military authority in Iraq will be instructed to maintain close liaison and to exchange all relevant information.

8. The United Kingdom Government will waive the provisions of paragraph 6 of the Annexure to the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of Alliance of 1930 to the extent required to give effect to the terms of this agreement.

HAB
United States Representative

HB
United Kingdom Representative

Memorandum of Understanding Concerning the Provision of Military Aid to Iraq by the Government of the United States

Minute on United States Intentions With Respect to a Possible Air Force Program

Representatives of the United States Government provided representatives of the United Kingdom Government with the following information concerning United States plans for a military assistance program in Iraq.

An aid program for the Iraqi army and navy has been approved in principle and on this basis MDAP funds have been tentatively earmarked for use during the remainder of the fiscal year 1954 and fiscal year 1955. No funds have been earmarked for an air force program during this period and no program is contemplated. However, should it develop that the United Kingdom is not in a position to meet the requirements of the Iraqi Air Force for certain types of equipment or training, the Government of the United States would, after conferring with the Government of the United Kingdom, consider providing such equipment and training.

HAB

HB

Memorandum of Understanding Concerning the Provision of Military Aid to Iraq by the Government of the United States

Minute on Paragraph 5

Representatives of the United States Government informed representatives of the United Kingdom Government that it was not anticipated that any spaces could be made available for Iraqi candidates in United States training schools during the present fiscal year, ending June 30, 1954. In the succeeding fiscal year, ending June 30, 1955, it was possible that some spaces might be found. However, in view of the fact that present plans for 1955, which are already far advanced, include no provision for Iraq, the number of such spaces would be necessarily limited.

HAB

HB

1. The source text, a copy of the original Memorandum of Understanding, was attached to a memorandum by Byroade to Deputy Under Secretary of State Murphy, dated Mar. 4. The Byroade memorandum stated that on Feb. 26 Harold Beeley, on behalf of the United Kingdom, and Byroade for the United States, had initialed the Memorandum of Understanding. The memorandum informed Murphy that the memorandum printed here was substantially the same as the one transmitted to the Secretary of Defense on Jan. 11, and that Adm. A. C. Davis, USN, Director, Office of Foreign Military Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, had informally agreed to it for the Department of Defense. Attached to the original Memorandum of Understanding was a letter to the Secretary of Defense, not found in Department of State files, transmitting a copy. (787.5 MSP/3454)
2. Despatch 3207 from London, Mar. 24, 1954, transmitted the minutes of a follow-up meeting between representatives of the Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom to discuss military aid to Iraq. (787.5 MSP/3–2454)