THE July 23 Revolution and pacts (17): Baghdad pact ratified: As if in a race with time, Iraq and Turkey acted quickly to confer legitimacy on their ‘newly-born baby', obviously in a bid to draw Arab and other countries into it. Parliaments of the two countries were summoned to dramatically and ‘democratically' ratify the pact. The Egyptian Gazette of February 27, 1955 published the fresh developments in a front-page report headlined: Turkish, Iraqi parliaments ratify Defence Treaty Nury hopes Britain, US join ��" to replace pact with UK The Gazette report said: “Iraq and Turkey acted quickly to ratify their newly signed defence treaty. Iraqi Premier expressed hope the United States, Britain, Pakistan and Persia would join. “Iraq's Lower House ratified the pact 116-4, and the Senate 26-1. In Ankara, the National Assembly registered Turkey's approval with a unanimous vote. “The Iraqi Premier told the Senate today he hoped Britain, the United States, Pakistan and Persia would join the pact, and that as soon as other countries joined the pact, Iraq would end the 1930 Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of Alliance. “Under the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty, which came in force in 1932 and is due to expire in 1957, Britain was granted two air bases and the right to maintain forces in their neighbourhood. “Nury el-Said told Parliament Iraq accepted no commitments outside her own territory and would not be dictated upon by any country (a clear reference to Egypt and the rest of the Arab bloc that opposed the Turco-Iraqi pact/the author). He said Iraq's foreign relations would be based on Article Five of the treaty with Turkey which states that the pact is open to any member-State of the Arab League or any state recognised by both parties which is actively concerned in the security and peace of the region. “Nury el-Said said that this article was particularly designed to prevent Israel from joining the pact. He was fully convinced the pact would secure the nation against any foreign aggression from inside or outside the area (an obvious reference to growing communist threats/the author). “The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Iraqi Chamber of Deputies, which had unanimously approved the pact before today's vote, said the alliance would also secure Turkish support for carrying out United Nations resolutions on Palestine (a desperate attempt at pacifying and assuring angry Arab public opinion/the author). “The new alliance was signed by Nury el-Said and the Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes in Baghdad on Thursday. The lone Iraqi Senator who objected to the pact was Ridha Shabiby, former leader of the Popular Front, who is described as a ‘middle-of-the road' politician.” [email protected]
