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

780.5/11–254: Telegram

No. 1421
The Chargé in Iraq (Ireland) to the Department of State¹

secret

Baghdad, November 2, 1954—11 a.m.

273. Although Embassy has had no opportunity to discuss in detail with Prime Minister current status GIs regional defense thinking, Department’s attention is invited to summarized minutes of Ankara talks obtained from Nuri and reported in Embtel 276.²Nuri’s reported approach to Menderes placing primary emphasis on alleged Israeli threat (Ankara telegram 441³) need not be taken overly seriously for Prime Minister adept any tailoring his argument to fit listener on hand. In Embassy’s view reported statement is out of keeping with what we know to be Nuri’s actual thinking on this score. Although he has stated in past that 95 percent of Iraqi public see Israel as principal menace and only 9 percent understand true nature Soviet danger, we believe Nuri belongs to latter group and his defense concepts conditioned by full appreciation of threat from north.

Sources close to Nuri confirm distinct impression given in already cited summarized minutes that he clearly better disposed towards Turks since his Ankara visit and add his earlier fears re possible Turkish irredentist intentions appear be considerably assuaged. They feel that if present mood persists initialling of Iraqi-Turk bilateral defense agreement is strong possibility during or shortly after forthcoming Menderes visit to Baghdad.

Embassy inclined to believe Nuri has not yet planned his precise course of action and British concur in our estimate. Iraqi approach to Pakistan, however, has been one of few invariables in Nuri’s regional defense concept from very outset and doubtless remains so. Embassy has no indication of reported preference for Turkish rather than Iraqi approach to Syrians and summarized minutes would seem to suggest that either party free take up matter with Syrians. Current hesitation re early Iranian adherence is, in our view, temporary phenomena and results from recent revelations re extensive Communist infiltration into Iranian Army. Embassy convinced ultimate Iranian adherence remains one of Nuri’s goals.

While we share hope of Menderes that regional defense concept through series of bilateral agreements in process of developing and that they may ultimately lead to stabilization Arab-Israeli issue, we believe latter contingency still somewhat remote. Doubtless, however, any Turkish effort induce Israelis forego unlimited immigration and agree to internationalization Jerusalem will be greatly appreciated here. Establishment Israeli-Arab boundaries along present cease-fire lines may well require considerably more persuasion.

In any event, Embassy believes present favorable trend toward development of indigenous regional defense structure, even though it be through series bilateral accords rather than direct adherence Turk-Pakistan pact, deserves our sympathetic encouragement. Our interest is in effectiveness of regional defense scheme rather than form.

Ireland

1. Repeated to Ankara, Cairo, Karachi, Tehran, London, Paris, Damascus, Jidda, Beirut, and Amman.
2. Infra.
3. Document 233.