Office of the Historian
  1. Home
  2. Historical Documents
  3. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Near East Region; Iran; Iraq, Volume XII
  4. Document 437

437. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iraq1

Washington, August 8, 1956—7:28 p.m.

164. Joint State–Defense Message. Off-shore procurement 40 Centurion tanks approved for Iraq 57 FY. Information given British in response personal message from Selwyn Lloyd to Secretary asking if US intended furnish Iraq Centurions this fiscal year. Since time delivery depends on ability UK make Centurions available Dept in reply stressed importance many tanks as possible reach Iraq in time for Army Day celebration on January 6.

You may inform Iraqi government US programming these tanks and striving for early delivery.

FYI. Preliminary British estimate on deliveries 24 by end 56 and 14 about March 57. End FYI.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 787.5–MSP/8–856. Secret. Drafted by Hallett and Eli Stevens and approved by Allen. Repeated to London.↩