611.87/11–454
No. 1423
Memorandum of Conversation, by the
Officer in Charge of Arabian Peninsula-Iraq Affairs (Fritzlan)
Subject:
- Visit of Dr. Jamali to Secretary
Participants:
- Dr. Jamali, Head of Iraqi Delegation to U.N. General Assembly
- Mr. Hashim Khalil, Iraqi Chargé d’Affaires
- The Secretary
- NEA—Mr.Byroade
- NE—Mr.Fritzlan
Dr. Jamali called by pre-arrangement to discuss several subjects with the Secretary. At the outset he expressed his warm appreciation for the forthright stand the United States Government has taken in an effort to achieve and carry out a policy of impartiality as between Arabs and Israelis. He said he was well aware that the Secretary had been subjected to considerable pressures from Zionist groups in the United States, especially on the question of military assistance to Iraq.
[Page 2394]As regards such assistance, Dr. Jamali made a plea for early and impressive shipments which would strengthen the Prime Minister’s hand in taking action on questions related to regional defense. In particular, Dr. Jamali, acting on instructions from his Government, asked that we make available quantities of tanks and training aircraft. The Secretary said he was not aware of the details of our military assistance program, and Mr. Byroade stated that he had just learned of the request for tanks. He said this was a matter which would require careful study in the light of a number of factors. It was our plan to build up to full strength the two divisions of the Iraqi army before considering the possible establishment of new units. Furthermore, it was our policy not to disturb the present arrangement under which Iraq obtains most of its military equipment from the United Kingdom. Dr. Jamali stated that he understood this but unfortunately the British were at this time unable to make available the equipment he mentioned.
The Secretary strongly supported the idea of Iraq strengthening its relations with Turkey and joining the Turkey-Pakistan pact, and said such action by the Iraqi Government would make it easier for the United States to justify provision of military equipment of the type Dr. Jamali had mentioned. Dr. Jamali agreed and said he believed the Prime Minister planned to take early action after the meeting of Parliament next month to associate Iraq in some manner with the pact.
Dr. Jamali then raised the question of Israel, reiterating the lack of aggressive intentions of the Arab states and particularly Iraq. He added, however, that it was out of the question for Iraq or any other Arab state to make peace with Israel except on the basis of United Nations General Assembly resolutions and he hoped we would fully realize this. He knew the Secretary was constantly being bombarded with Jewish propaganda regarding alleged aggressive designs of the Arab states and the desirability of the United States taking some action to bring about peace. The key to peace lay only in the hands of Israel, and the United States could perform a very useful service by using its influence to cause Israel to recognize Arab rights in Palestine as set forth by the United Nations and take measures which would make it possible to bring about a settlement and eventual peace. However, the fact that Arabs had no intention of making peace on Israeli terms was a different thing from saying that they had aggressive designs. For his part he would gladly repeat statements he had already made regarding lack of any aggressive intentions on the part of Iraq.
Mr. Byroade inquired if Dr. Jamali thought it would be feasible for the Arab states to make a declaration at the next Arab League meeting affirming their lack of aggressive intentions against Israel. [Page 2395] Dr. Jamali said he doubted if certain states such as Saudi Arabia and Yemen would agree to do so but he felt on an individual basis a number of states would be willing. He felt certain the Iraqi Government would be favorably disposed.
Allusion was made to the status of Jerusalem and Dr. Jamali deplored the fact that Ambassador Lawson was expected to present his credentials to the Israeli President in Jerusalem. He feared this would be the prelude to further actions on our part which would amount to recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem. The Secretary explained our view that our Ambassador should present his credentials to the President at his place of residence, which happened to be Jerusalem. No political significance should be attached to such a procedure, nor should it be expected that we planned in any way to modify our stand on Jerusalem. Our Embassy would continue to be situated in Tel Aviv.
Dr. Jamali brought up the subject of Tunisia and Morocco and complained bitterly over reports that the French were shooting large numbers of Tunisian nationals. He said this did not conform with their apparent policy of conciliation and reform. The Secretary said he had discussed this problem with Mendes-France recently in Paris, and Mr. Byroade stated that our Ambassador there had also raised the question with the Prime Minister. It was naturally hoped that developments in North Africa could take place in an atmosphere of calm and order.
Before departing Dr. Jamali mentioned briefly his pet project of an American technical educational institution in Baghdad. The Secretary and Mr. Byroade expressed their support for the idea of enlisting the aid of private foundations in the United States. Mr. Byroade said the matter had been explored to some extent but the results so far had not been very hopeful. It was generally agreed that efforts in this direction should continue.