Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Near East: Jordan-Yemen, Volume XIII

403. Special Staff Note, Prepared in the White House¹

Washington, September 20, 1957.

From Defense:

Expedited MAP Deliveries to Middle East Countries.—Current status of the special action directed by the President to expedite shipment of undelivered programmed items to Middle East countries, with overriding priority to be given Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in the sequence named, are as follows:

Iraq—Received by airlift August 28–31, 1957: 36 Mortars, 4.2"; 82 Recoilless Rifles, 106mm, with ammunition; 162 Radios; 6 L-19a Observation and Liaison aircraft. Majority of remaining programmed U.S. items will be delivered by sea by end October, and balance by end CY 1957.

Jordan—Received by airlift September 9, 1957: 40 Recoilless Rifles, 106mm, mounted on 40 jeeps together with ammunition. Remainder of $10 million program consisting of both British and US-type matériel will be shipped by sea on an expedited basis. US-type items, including 36 M–47 tanks and 60 additional Recoilless Rifles and jeeps are expected to be delivered to port of Aqaba by end September 1957.

Saudi Arabia—12 F–86 jet fighters were delivered by air August 30. 2 T–33 jet trainer aircraft are en route by air. 6 T–28 primary trainer aircraft and one H–34 helicopter will be shipped by vessel on September 21. 18 M–47 medium tanks and ammunition arrived September 4. 18 M–41 light tanks and all small arms are scheduled for shipment in September. All artillery is scheduled for shipment in October.

Iran—3 T–33 jet trainer aircraft are en route by air. Major part of end items on Army program has been delivered. 2 Howitzers 8" were shipped end of August and are due to arrive mid October. Remainder of program is being processed for shipment on an expedited basis.

Turkey—Miscellaneous Air Force equipment and parts, (totalling $1 million in value), are en route by sea. 50 M–47 tanks are scheduled for shipment from Europe in October and 47 additional by December. 91 M–24 light tanks will be shipped during October and November. 1027 trucks ¾ ton will be shipped during September and October. 2457 trucks 2-½ ton will be shipped at rate of 300 per month beginning in September.

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Secret. No drafting information is given on the source text. Eisenhower initialed the source text.