Word: pact
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...Ankara's new Parliament building, U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles listened impassively. In theory, Dulles was present only as an "observer," because the U.S. is not a member, and to join the Baghdad grouping outright would antagonize Israel and Saudi Arabia. In reality, as the pact members recognized, only Dulles could save the meeting from failure and unseemly bickering. Britain's Selwyn Lloyd quickly made clear that Britain was sympathetic to the area members' pleas, but could offer no more help just now. It was up to Dulles...
...Dulles talked with calm realism. Let's get things in focus, was his theme. One and only one basic, unifying interest had brought members together: mutual defense against their Soviet Communist neighbor. Dulles argued that the U.S. could do more for the Baghdad nations by remaining outside the pact than by joining. The Baghdad Pact commits its members only to "cooperate for their security and defense." Under the Eisenhower Doctrine, Dulles pointed out, the U.S. is pledged to send its armed forces, on request, to the aid of any Middle East nation or group of nations under attack...
...citation of Russian aid to Syria and Egypt, Dulles promised that the U.S. Development Loan Fund would consider favorably any application for loans. Then, to the members' pleased surprise, Dulles promised that the U.S. would put up an additional $10 million to complete the telecommunications net linking the pact capitals, which was launched with $8,600,000 contributed by the U.S. last year...
Exhibits of Despotism. As for the vaunted Russian aid, Dulles pointed out that the Russian figures are misleading, since the Russians count trade in their totals, e.g., the money they pay Egypt for its cotton and Syria for its wheat. On that basis, U.S. aid to pact member countries alone amounted to $2.2 billion last year, and to about $10 billion over a five-year period. This could be compared with the $300 million Russia claims to be giving Syria over the next five years. Furthermore, said Dulles, the Russians have concentrated their aid in areas that have special strategic...
Reassured and mollified, the area members stilled their differences in a communique expressing "satisfaction" with the U.S. position. Even Iraq's Nuri asSaid, who had gone to Ankara threatening to withdraw Iraq from the pact unless he got its backing for a Palestine solution, was persuaded by Dulles and Britain's Selwyn Lloyd not to raise the issue publicly. As the delegates departed, an Iraqi aide conceded: "We are much happier than we were, thanks to Mr. Dulles." John Foster Dulles flew home with accomplishment recorded...