No. 1416
Editorial Note
On May 7, 1954, Brigadier General Harry F. Meyers, Chief of the Joint Military Survey Team to the Middle East, and the members of his team met with John D. Jernegan in Jernegan’s office. The meeting was held to discuss arrangements to advise the Embassy in Baghdad on the types of assistance available under the Mutual Defense Assistance Act. Members of the Survey Team requested that the information be transmitted to the Government of Iraq prior to the arrival of the Survey Team. After a discussion of the desired relationship between members of the Survey Team and the British military attaché to Iraq, the participants in the meeting decided the team would stress the fact-finding nature of its mission and indicate a final report could not be given until after their return to Washington. According to the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding of February 26 (Document 1407), the team was obliged to consult with the United Kingdom before recommending a definite program of assistance for Iraq. (Memorandum for the Record, prepared in the Department of Defense; NEA files, lot 57 D 177, “Iraq”)
Telegram 639 to Baghdad, May 7, advised the Embassy in Baghdad that a five-man military Survey Team under General Meyers was scheduled to arrive in Baghdad on May 13. The Embassy was asked to inform the Government of Iraq that the team’s terms of reference were restricted to requirements for military equipment and training, and did not include such matters as economic developmental assistance, defense support assistance, or nonmilitary technical assistance. The Department of State did not wish the Iraqi Government to be informed of the existence of the February 26 memorandum with the United Kingdom, but believed it should be informed of close consultations between the United States and the United Kingdom. (711.5887/5–754)