BAGDAD PACT DEFENDED

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28154, 18 December 1956, Page 3

BAGDAD PACT DEFENDED

“Iraq’s Defence From Communism” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) BAGDAD, December 16. The Iraqi Prime Minister (General Nuri el Said) tonight attacked communism and urged his countrymen to resist Communist propaganda “spread by Shepilov, Malenkov and Khrushchev, their Zionist henchmen and their foolish lackeys outside Zionism.” In a nation-wide broadcast on hits national policy, the Prime Minister defended the Bagdad Pact and accused Russia of actively subverting the Arabs from inside the Arab countries since 1930. “Russia’s ambition to expand and control the Middle East are no secret. Russia aspires. to control the whole region between the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf,” said the Prime Minister.

General Nuri said that a campaign of lies and falsehood against Iraq had followed her entry into the five-nation Bagdad Pact. The pact links Iraq, Persia, Turkey, and Pakistan, with Britain.

Before the Bagdad Pact was created in 1954 he discussed with the Indian Prime Minister (Mr Nehru) the formation of a strong defensive neutral bloc including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey and the Arab States which would guarantee their neutrality and defend the area. Mr Nehru rejected the idea. General Nuri said that the Arab League States refused when he asked them to join a defensive pact with Turkey, Persia and Pakistan. Effect of Pact The Bagdad Pact was important as a defence against communism and Israel, and he said that it had played a part in bringing about the withdrawal of the Anglo-French and Israeli forces from Egypt. “I assure the Arabs that whatever is said about myself or the people of this country, Iraq’s national policy will never be changed. I even warn the Egyptians that Russia, by supplying Egypt with arms, will drag them into a clash with the West,” he added. General Nuri said that communism appeared in the Middle East for the first time in Palestine in 1929 or 1930. Russia had attempted to establish diplomatic relations with Iraq since 1934. When Russia became a partner of the Allies in the last war, she exploited the circumstances and succeeded in Establishing diplomatic relations with Iraq in 1945. “No sooner was this done than the Russian Legation in Bagdad was transformed into a centre of propaganda, and the Russian Legation became a nest for conspiracies, acts of subversion and sabotage in Iraq and neighbouring countries,” said General Nuri.