196. Memorandum From the Ambassador to Iraq (Strong)1
SUBJECT
- Talk with Iraqi Foreign Minister Adnan Pachachi
I ran into Pachachi this noon, telling him of my departure from New York tomorrow, thanking him for his cooperation and assistance during my tour in Baghdad, expressing deep regret at our official differences, and doubting that I would be seeing him again.
Pachachi expressed regret that our mutual efforts in Baghdad seemed in process of being obliterated. Admitting to personal bitterness, Pachachi said that the Arabs had been misled as to what they could expect from the United States, or they had misled themselves. [Page 384] He noted that in the Suez crisis of 1956 the United States had immediately and forcibly publicly stated that Israel would not be allowed any territorial gains. This time the United States had not done the same thing and had shown an utter lack of concern for the Arabs or consideration for their feelings. In addition the United States had gone right ahead with a food agreement with Israel as though nothing had happened. The United States position is so close to that of Israel that there is no meaningful distinction to make. He can only hope, he said, that in time the United States will realize that its interests require a better balance, and that improvement in relations can then occur.
At this point we were interrupted.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, POL 7 IRAQ. Confidential. Drafted by Strong. Copies were sent to the Secretariat, Davies, and NEA/ARN.↩