Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XVII, Near East, 1961–1962

305. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iraq⁰

Washington, June 22, 1962, 9:17 p.m.

383. Kamaran Badrkhan, well known Syrian Kurd and Jamal Abdullah, Iraqi Kurd employed at Michigan State University called Department June 20, following talk with Justice Douglas.¹ Stated they representing Mulla Mustafa al-Barzani, tribal leader now fighting GOI army.

Kurds stated they aim arouse general international interest in their claims for local autonomy and hope for UN hearing. Asked for US “moral support” on humanitarian grounds suffering Kurdish people caused by Iraqi attacks. US could not actively take sides or espouse Kurdish movement for autonomy. Asked US not be “hostile” if question broached in UN debate.

Department officer expressed US view Kurds must through own endeavors reach agreement with GOI and that for US to indicate sympathy or interest, let alone support, would merely accentuate their problems with GOI.

Visitors departed chastened but friendly and apparently still convinced Kurdish situation Iraq has now reached point deserving UN consideration.

Department notifying Iraq Embassy and suggests Embassy inform Foreign Office, avoiding naming Iraqi representative.²

Ball

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 787.00/6–2262. Confidential. Drafted by Dinsmore (NEA/NE), cleared by Strong, and approved by Talbot. Repeated to Ankara, Damascus, London, Paris, Tehran, Tabriz, and USUN.
1. The memorandum of conversation by Dinsmore is ibid., 787.00/6–2062.
2. This final sentence of the telegram has a line drawn through it, but evidently was included in the outgoing telegram. The Embassy in Baghdad responded in telegram 594, June 27, with the following report: “Information conveyed orally to Foreign Office Director Western Department June 26.” (Ibid., 787.00/6–2762)