§ 25. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent conference of the Bagdad Pact Governments.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreA full account of the Council meeting was contained in the communiqué issued at Karachi on 6th June. I will circulate the text in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. BrockwayWill the hon. Gentleman request his right hon. and learned Friend to consider the background situation in the Middle East now in relation to the Bagdad Pact and see whether there is not a great danger that we may identify ourselves with undemocratic Governments, which may be swept aside by dynamic popular movements and make a present of them to Soviet Russia and the Communists?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI do not think anything that has happened recently should change our policy of giving the fullest support to the Bagdad Pact, which is standing us in very good stead at the present time.
§ Mr. BevanIs not at least one desirable feature of the communiqué that more emphasis is being laid now on economic and technical co-operation and less upon the absurd assumption that the Pact has any military significance?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI thought the first part of that supplementary question was rather helpful. I did not much like the rest of it, but it is important that we should emphasise the economic side of this Pact.
§ Following is the communiqué
§ The Council of Ministers of the Bagdad Pact held its Third Session in Karachi from 3rd June to 6th June, 1957, under the chairmanship of Mr. Huseyn Shahecd Suhrawardy, Prime Minister of Pakistan.
§ 2. The Session was attended by the Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Turkey and by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom. The United States of America was represented by a delegation of observers headed by the Honourable Loy W. Henderson, Deputy Under Secretary of State.
§ 3. The Council noted with gratification the constant strengthening and the continuing progress of the Bagdad Pact Alliance. The Pact has emerged as a constructive force for regional co-operation and as an important element promoting world peace and security. Events have proved the soundness and solidarity of its moral basis. With its roots deep in the region, the Pact symbolises the spirit of association in equal partnership.
§ 4. The Council noted with regret that some Governments have adopted an attitude of active opposition to collective security arrangements like the Bagdad Pact. which are in full accord with the Charter of the United Nations. The Council expressed its conviction that some of those who had criticised the Pact in the past were coming to recognise that it is not designed to harm the interests of any country. It is purely a defensive association of friends of equal standing, pledged to co-operate for their defence and security, and therefore to the advantage of the area as a whole. The Council, whose unanimous aim is to strengthen the Middle East against aggression and subversion, has no wish to see divisions or differences arising or persisting between Arab or Moslem countries. At the same time, they have no intention to press any country to join the Pact.
§ 5. The Council was appreciative of the new spirit which has been generated by the Bagdad Pact among the Member countries It is 203 characterised by frank discussion, understanding of one another's point of view and co-operation in the common objective of peace and progress.
§ Political
§ 6. The Council reviewed the international political situation, especially from the point of view of its repercussions on the Pact area.
§ 7. The Council was of the opinion that, although the situation in the region of the Pact has shown improvement, the basic objectives of international Communism remain unchanged and the threat of direct and indirect aggression backed by massive and growing military potential against the security of Member Nations still exists. The Council agreed on the need for constant vigilance and for strengthening the ability of the member nations to meet and repel this threat. The Council expressed deep gratification for the purposes and principles of the American doctrine on the Middle East and for the assistance extended thereunder.
§ 8. The Council devoted considerable time to a most helpful discussion of international situations in various parts of the world, with special emphasis on Eastern Europe, North Africa and South Asia and the Arab and Moslem countries of the Middle East. In particular, it examined those situations which have the potentials for developing in such a manner as to affect the security of the Pact area. The Council appreciated the importance of supporting the efforts made by the United Nations in promoting peaceful conditions in the area of the Bagdad Pact.
§ 9. The Council recognised the necessity and great value to the members of the Pact of having readily available machinery for consultation on appropriate aspects of the international situation, in the form both of general appreciation and of advance consultation on current issues. To supplement the opportunities of such consultation provided by Ministerial meetings of the Council and by normal diplomatic channels, the Council decided that discussions should also be held in future at the Deputies level at appropriate intervals.
§ Economic
§ 10. In considering the Third Report of the Economic Committee the Council noted with satisfaction the wide range of planning and achievement by this Committee. Approval has already been given for a number of projects designed to improve communications and to accelerate the development of the region. These include the linking of the Bagdad Pact capitals by telecommunications and the construction of roads and railways. For these projects the United States Government through the Richards Mission has made available the sum of $12,570,000.
§ 11. Students from regional member countries are already studying at the nuclear centre established under the auspices of the Pact at Bagdad and the Council have delegated to the Deputies the consideration of the possibilities of offering vacancies to nationals of other states.
§ 12. A far-reaching programme of other joint economic projects sponsored by regional members of the Pact is now under consideration by 204 experts and the United Kingdom Government have announced that they will provide £1,000,000 to enable a start to be made on some of them. The list of projects includes, in addition to those for improved communications:—
- (a) establishment and co-ordinated use of national food reserves in the region;
- (b) establishment of one or more centres for training in the use of agricultural machinery and methods of soil and water conservation; and
- (c) establishment of an artificial insemination centre for Red Sindhi cattle in Pakistan.
§ 13. The Council noted with deep appreciation that funds for technical assistance under the aegis of the Bagdad Pact have been made available by the United Kingdom (£1 million) and Pakistan (Rs. 500,000) and that a request by the Government of Turkey for the allocation of funds has been made to the Turkish Grand National Assembly. The programme of technical assistance already approved envisages the provision of scholarships and the services of experts including consultants and also equipment, for example, X-ray apparatus for static T.B. centres.
§ 14. On the suggestion of the Economic Committee, the Council decided that a Working Party should meet in Bagdad at the end of September, 1947, to consider means whereby the national emergency services, like Red Crescent Societies, could be developed and coordinated through the Bagdad Pact to give more effective assistance to any country within the Pact region whch might require urgent relief in floods, epidemics and other calamities.
§ 15. The Council is confident that the early and vigorous implementation of economic development programmes will contribute materially to the stability of the region and the well-being of its people.
§ Counter-Subversion
§ 16. The Council considered the report of the Counter-Subversion Committee and recognised that the threat of subversion in the area inspired from outside continues to be serious. Efforts are being made to interfere in the internal affairs of Member countries and to undermine established law and order. The Council directed the Counter-Subversion Committee to continue with full vigour measures to safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of Member States against subversion.
§ Military
§ 17. The Council welcomed the accession of the United States of America to the full membership of the Military Committee and recorded their deep appreciation of the United States' decision, which they were confident would further contribute towards the defence and security in the Pact region.
§ 18. The Military Committee met from 3rd June to 5th June in Karachi and considered the progress to date. The Council noted with satisfaction that considerable progress has been achieved in the military field. The Council noted that the Committee have agreed on the nature of the threats against the Bagdad Pact area. The measures required in peace-time to improve the defence potential have been agreed 205 upon. In particular, the Council express their appreciation of the United Kingdom's offer to the regional Pact countries of a substantial contribution towards the infrastructure and training measures.
§ 19. The Council approved of the setting up of a more comprehensive military planning structure.
§ Next Meeting of Council
§ 20. The Council decided to hold its next meeting at the Ministerial level at Ankara on 20th January, 1958. Meanwhile, the Council will continue to meet regularly at the Deputies level.