90. Editorial Note

On January 11, at a news conference, Secretary Dulles was asked several questions concerning the Baghdad Pact. He mentioned U.S. sympathy toward its formation and his own personal interest. He then said, “On the question of its further development, the United States has no particular views. We have not urged any other countries to join the pact.”

Regarding U.S. membership, the Secretary said, “I think we would consider joining the Baghdad Pact if and when it seemed in doing so it would be a contribution to the general stability of the area. We do not consider it as an isolated act.”

For the complete transcript of the news conference, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1956, page 561.