158. Editorial Note
At the 395th Meeting of the National Security Council, January 29, Director of Central Intelligence Allen Dulles briefed the Council on “Significant World Developments Affecting U.S. Security.” Dulles’ briefing included the following information and comment by Secretary Dulles:
“Turning to the Middle East, Mr. Dulles stated that the Iraqi Prime Minister had asked the United Kingdom for a very substantial quantity [Page 378] of modern armaments—aircraft, tanks, anti-aircraft artillery, and howitzers. The U.K. authorities were not sure that this request was serious and if it were how they should respond to it. They might well ask our advice and may expect us to pay the bill.
“At this point Secretary Dulles interrupted to point out that there was an organized campaign from Israel in this country whose object was to check any rapprochement between Nasser and the U.S. Apparently supporters of this campaign would rather see Iraq taken over by the Communists than controlled by Nasser.” (Memorandum of discussion by Gleason, January 29; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)