Office of the Historian

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

Washington, November 16, 1955—7 p.m.

358. Department has reviewed comments Pact signatories welcoming US liaison (London’s 1749, Ankara’s 754, Baghdad’s 409, Karachi’s 874, Tehran’s 712).2 In anticipation formal invitation, Department is assigning Ambassador Gallman as political observer at opening session and as permanent political liaison on presumption Council headquarters will be in Baghdad. Admiral Cassady, CINCNELM, with Brigadier General from staff will be designated special observer for opening session in addition to Army Attaché, Baghdad. Latter also designated as permanent military liaison, assuming Pact organization established in Iraq.

Tehran’s 712, Baghdad’s 4733 and London’s 1749 have indicated desirability public announcement US assignment of observers and establishment liaison arrangement. As soon as comments Karachi and Ankara on this matter received (Cirtel 283)4 Department prepared consider issuing such announcement.

British Embassy has informed Department of their suggestions regarding substance and agenda of opening meeting. Department’s comments on these will follow.5

Hoover
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 780.5/10–2955. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Newsom and approved by Wilkins who signed for Hoover. Also sent Priority to Ankara, London, Karachi, and Tehran.↩
  2. Telegram 409 from Baghdad, October 29, is Document 74. The other telegrams, none printed, are in Department of State, Central File 780.5.↩
  3. Dated November 14, not printed. (Ibid., 780.5/11–1455)↩
  4. Document 72.↩
  5. On November 19, the Department of State issued a press release announcing that the members of the Baghdad Pact had invited the United States to establish military and political liaison with the organization, and that the United States had designated Ambassador Waldemar Gallman as its special political observer at the initial meeting of the organization to take place in Baghdad on November 21. Admiral John H. Cassady, Commander in Chief of U.S. Naval Forces in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, and Brigadier General Forrest Caraway would also attend as special military observers. Gallman was also designated to maintain continuing political liaison with the organization and Colonel Henry P. Tucker, U.S. Army Attaché at Baghdad, to maintain continuing military liaison. The text of the press release is printed in Department of State Bulletin, November 28, 1955, p. 895.↩