867N.01/11–944: Telegram
The Minister in Iraq (Henderson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 10—2:05 p.m.]
244. The Minister for Foreign Affairs called on me today. He said that he wished to express the gratification of the Iraqi Government upon the reelection of President Roosevelt. The Iraqi Government had felt that it would be disastrous to the world for any change to take place in the Presidency of the United States at this time. The Arabs continue to look to President Roosevelt for leadership in bringing about a peaceful post-war world based on principles of justice. He added that statements made during the presidential campaign had unfortunately been extremely discouraging to the Arab people. He then repeated his statements made to me previously as reported in the first 2 sentences of paragraph 3 of my 237, October 31. He said that the Arabs were now fully awake to the fact that if they did not exert themselves to the full the Zionists would be successful in closing the door to Arab unity. He added that it was his personal hope and that of his Government that the Arab struggle against Zionism would not adversely affect the friendly relations between the United States and the Arab countries.
2. The Minister referred to the publicity given during the last few days in the Iraqi press to a letter written by Senator Bailey52 and a memorandum submitted to the Department by the American Council for the Jews53 both of which opposed Zionist ambitions. He said that he had caused these documents to be published and that during the course of the campaign against Zionism, which would be conducted in Iraq, every effort would be made to give publicity to anti-Zionist statements made in America in order to combat the idea that America was irrevocably committed to Zionism.