213. Memorandum of Discussion at the 432d Meeting of the National Security Council0
[Here follow a paragraph listing the participants at the meeting and agenda items 1–5.]
6. The Situation in Iraq (NSC Actions Nos. 2068 and 2160)1
Mr. Gray briefed the Council on this subject. (A copy of Mr. Gray’s Briefing Note is filed in the Minutes of the Meeting and another copy is attached to this Memorandum).2 He then called on Mr. Merchant for the report of the Interdepartmental Group established by NSC Action No. 2068.
Mr. Merchant said the Interdepartmental Group had met on January 12.3 He did not feel it was necessary to go into detail concerning the deliberations of the Group. He might, however, summarize the situation in Iraq as depressing. Kassem’s placement of blame for the assassination attempt on the pro-Nationalist elements had thrown him more heavily into the arms of the Communists for support. Mr. Merchant felt that the best hope for remedying the situation on Iraq lay with the Iraqis themselves. He reported that contingency plans relating to Iraq had been updated and coordinated with the U.K. in deep secrecy. [4 lines of source text not declassified] The Interdepartmental Group would continue to follow developments in Iraq from day to day. In particular, in the near future the Group would be watching Kassem’s program for licensing political parties. Mr. Merchant anticipated that licenses would probably be granted to the Communist, the Kurdish and the Leftist Parties. Summarizing, Mr. Merchant anticipated that the situation in Iraq compared to six months ago was worse, in that Nationalist stock had gone down and Kassem’s dependence on the Communists was greater. Mr. Dulles agreed with Mr. Merchant’s summary of the situation. He said Kassem believes the Rightists will assassinate him. [3 lines of source text not declassified] He added that the situation had been complicated by the Shatt-al-Arab dispute, which brought Iran’s relations with Iraq to a critical state. However, he felt this dispute was now disappearing.
[Page 502]The National Security Council:4
Noted and discussed the subject in the light of an oral presentation of a report by the Interdepartmental Group on Iraq established by NSC Action No. 2068.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Drafted by Boggs on March 31.↩
- NSC Action No. 2160, approved by the President on December 23, 1959, noted and discussed the oral briefing to the NSC by Bissell (see Document 209), and agreed that the interdepartmental group on Iraq should be requested to keep the Council informed on the status of contingency planning regarding the Iraq situation and should identify any policy issues requiring Council consideration. (Department of State, S/S–NSC (Miscellaneous) Files: Lot 66 D 95, Records of Action by the National Security Council)↩
- Attached, but not printed.↩
- See Document 212.↩
- The following sentence constitutes NSC Action No. 2180, approved by the President on January 19. (Department of State, S/S–NSC (Miscellaneous) Files: Lot 66 D 95, Records of Action by the National Security Council)↩