SIR,—Your editorial on this subject (May 8) is far from
convincing. You ask, 'What on earth does the Government hope to gain' by supplying arms to Iraq, and you proceed to lambast the Government for what you call 'this latest witless stroke.' I think you have not given a fair showing to the positive side.
Since'the revolution of July 14, 1958, which brought Kassem absolute power, he has had ample time and opportunity, had he wished to do so, to hit Britain where it would hurt her most, viz, by cutting off oil supplies. We all know how greatly the proceeds of the sale of Iraq oil have helped to restore and maintain the stability of sterling—the most striking evidence of Britain's post-war recovery. Lord Monckton and other thoroughly trustworthy witnesses who have carefully investigated the position on the spot have stated publicly that Kassem is not likely to do what Nasser did soon after he seized power, namely to cut the pipe-lines. Nasser also seized the Suez Canal as soon as he could. A comparison between the attitude of Kassem and that of Nasser towards Britain leads to one conclusion only, namely, that Kassem is less harmful to Britain than Nasser.
Your argument that Kassem is already subservient to Khrushchev (or bound to become so shortly) while Nasser is putting up a fight against Moscow appears convincing until we take, a closer look at the inter- national situation. This is dominated more by recogni- tion of the interdependence of governments than by the urge to secure self-determination. In this country there is widespread and growing feeling that the continuation of the cold war is doing grievous harm to Britain.
The supply of British arms to Kassem if looked at from this point of view falls into place as a minor but useful step in this overall effort to establish a basis for peaceful co-existence with Moscow. According to reports Turkey, Iran and Jordan agreed to the pro- posed British action. Iran is no friend of Iraq, whilst Hussein's attitude to Kassem is ambivalent. Kassem might cast envious eyes on Jordan, but as Nasser is a more dangerous neighbour it is as well that Britain keeps him guessing and thus unable to harm Jordan. —Yours faithfully,
SAMUEL LANDMAN 73 Staverton Road, Brondesbury Park, N W2
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