Coll 6/43 'Pan Arab Congress 1933. Attitude of H.M.G. to a Pan Arab Movement' [‎343r] (686/1144)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY QF-mS3RTTXflN1id“MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
WITH reference to correspondence ending with despatch No. 32 of the
18th January last from Sir A. Clark Kerr, a copy of which was forwarded to me,
I have the honour to report that the Egyptian Government has given me no
intimation whatever of any pourparlers with the Iraqi Government regarding the
possibility of an alliance between Iraq and Egypt.
2. To me it seems hardly consistent with article 5 of the Anglo-Egyptian
Treaty that the Egyptian Government should continue such discussions without
keeping their ally informed. Indeed, it would appear that the Iraqi Government
have interpreted the same treaty obligation to imply that His Majesty s Govern
ment must at least be kept informed on the subject.
3. Before sounding the Prime Minister on the subject, I should, however, be
glad to know what are the views of His Majesty’s Government regarding the
desirability or otherwise of such an Egypto-Iraq treaty of alliance. Obviously in
the minds of Iraqis and Egyptians who have discussed this question there is
always present the idea of a larger entente between the Arabic-speaking nations of
the Near East. The advantages and disadvantages of such a development have
been discussed in Mr. Kelly’s despatch No. 1039 of the 4th September last and
Mr. Rendel’s memorandum of the 22nd September last wuth Sir A. Clark Kerrs
minute thereon, both enclosed in your despatch No. 925 of the 1st October, 1936.
4. Obviously there are both possible advantages and dangers in this
development as regards our interests generally in the Arabic-speaking Near East.
The interests of all these countries are more in harmony with ours than they are
with those of Italy. A Turco-Arab-Egyptian bloc, working in close co-operation
with Great Britain, would greatly diminish our difficulties in the Eastern Medi
terranean. On the other hand, it is, as suggested by Mr. Rendel in the third
paragraph of his memorandum referred to above, difficult to imagine that such a
bloc would be prepared to agree to the permanent retention of our present
military and air positions in the Near East.
5. " Leaving these more general aspects of the question, it seems evident that,
as regards the particular problem of Palestine, the conclusion of ententes between
Egypt and Iraq or other Arab-speaking countries must be disadvantageous to us as
long as we are committed to a form of Zionism which the Palestinian Arabs will
not accept. Such ententes would tend to intensify external co-operation with
the Palestinian Arabs against Zionism and ourselves.
6. On the other hand, as suggested by Sir A. Clark Kerr, its seems inevitable
that Egypt and the neighbouring Arabic countries must sooner or later get
together with a view to international co-operation. In principle it would seem
undesirable to oppose tendencies which have in them such elements of inevitability.
1 suggest, therefore, that our attitude should he one of benevolent expectancy
rather than of discouragement ; that in speaking to the Egyptian Prime Minister
L should lay stress on the necessity of concluding no pacts contrary to the obliga
tions and spirit of our treaty of alliance and of the League of Nations, but that
otherwise I should, if asked for the opinion of His Majesty's Government, say
that, while in principle viewing with satisfaction the prospect of friendly
agreements between two of their allies, His Majesty’s Government must naturally
reserve a definite expression of opinion until they are acquainted with the details
of the project.
7. I should be grateful for your instructions by telegraph.
8. 1 am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty’s representative at
Bagdad.
EASTERN (Iraq).
CONFIDENTIAL.
February 16, 1937.
Section 1.
[E 987/698/93]
Copy No. 120
(No. 148.)
Sir,
Sir M. Lamp son to Mr. Eden.—(Received February 16.)
Cairo, February 1, 1937.
I have, &c
MILES W. LAMPSON.
[931 q—1]