242. Memorandum for the File by Eli Stevens of the Office of Near Eastern Affairs1
Washington, May 15,
1957.
SUBJECT
- Meeting with General Twining on Middle East Defense Planning
Outstanding Points
- 1.
- Mr. Rountree outlined
points in his talking paper to Mr. Murphy2
and stressed that no commitments be made or position taken at the
first meeting of the Baghdad Pact Military Committee.
- a.
- General Twining agreed.
- 2.
- Rountree stressed delicate
political problems would result from a high level planning survey
and suggested such a trip may be premature.
- a.
- General Twining stated he also had misgivings about the timing and agreed such a survey would be premature.
- b.
- General Twining also agreed the Military Committee meeting should be the only thing tackled at this time. He planned to return immediately to Washington after this meeting.
- 3.
- Mr. Murphy raised issue of
the area of Baghdad Pact, and it was agreed our position would be
same as that reached with Defense last fall, also that:
- a.
- State would arrange to discuss this matter with the British in order to find out why they wished to exclude Western Turkey and East Pakistan.
- 4.
- Murphy and Rountree asked for Defense’s views
on the command structure and possible requests that U.S. head same.
Rountree had reservations
on this point.
- a.
- Twining stated this subject had not been considered by the JCS. He would take matter up with the Chiefs on the following day, and apprise us of their views.
- b.
- It was generally agreed the acceptance of the Command idea may well be followed by a request for assignment of U.S. forces.
- 5.
- Mr. Henderson agreed to meet with General Twining next week to discuss further their respective roles at the forthcoming meeting.
- 6.
- General Twining said his
present feeling was to attend the Military Committee meeting more in
the role of an observer, and make no commitments. That the results
of the meeting should be reviewed here on his return before a
decision is reached on any further action such as the planning
survey.
- a.
- Rountree, Murphy and Henderson were in agreement.