741.90G 11/33: Telegram
The Minister Resident in Iraq (Knabenshue) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:30 p.m.]
117. Referring to the Legation’s No. 115, December 5, 5 p.m., the Turkish Minister called to inform me today that a representative of his Government informed him that the Turkish Government had already been approached in the matter by the United States Government through the [Embassy?] in Washington; that in a conversation [Page 720] with the Turkish Foreign Minister the Iraqi Minister at Ankara (a brother of the Iraqi Prime Minister) denied that any situation existed to rise14 represented but would telegraph to his Government for advice; that until such reply is received the Turkish Government would postpone action.
The British Ambassador called immediately afterwards to thank me for our cooperation in the matter. He stated that he and his Government still insist on resignation of the Prime Minister and that Iraq politicians are trying to find a way of accomplishing it while at the same time saving the face of the Prime Minister and the prestige of Iraq.
He has now veered around to the advocacy, if necessary, of economic pressure de [or?] force, believing that any resultant disturbances would only damage the Iraqis themselves.
Anti-British newspapers did not appear yesterday and today their tone was milder than heretofore.
- Sentence apparently garbled at this point.↩