740.0011 European War 1939/27915: Telegram

The Minister Resident in Iraq (Wilson) to the Secretary of State

63. Reference to Department’s telegram No. 44, February 10,4 p.m. Please refer to my telegram No. 1, January 2, 10 p.m. I have never anticipated any difficulty arising from United States Army exercising its tribunal jurisdiction once Iraq declared war and adhered to the United Nations pact but was skeptical as to any sound basis for this under international law.

Nuri Pasha told me today that his Government will introduce in Parliament next week legislation having for its purpose granting to the United States (and all Allied Nations) the immunities and privileges both jurisdictional and fiscal which the British enjoy under the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of Alliance of June 30, 1930, such to operate for the duration of the war. It was something of this kind I had in mind when I had my talk with the Minister for Foreign Affairs in December [Page 642] last (reference page 2 of enclosure to my despatch No. 126, December 23, 1942.19)

Will report progress.

Repeated to Basra.

Wilson
  1. Not printed.