CAB129-36 — Page 515

SECRET

MIDDLE EAST POLICY

243

Page 515

Copy No.

31

GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND PROBLEMS

Importance of the Middle East

1. In peace and war the Middle East is an area of cardinal importance to the United Kingdom, second only to the United Kingdom itself. Strategically the Middle East is a focal point of communications, a source of oil, a shield to Africa and the Indian Ocean, and an irreplaceable offensive base. Economically it is, owing to oil and cotton, essential to United Kingdom recovery.

British Position and Responsibilities

2. In addition to these vital strategic and economic interests, His Majesty's Government have weighty responsibilities towards the peoples of the Middle East by history, tradition and in some cases by treaty. Our influence is greater than that of any other foreign Power. It is essential that we should maintain our special position and carry out our special responsibilities.

Dangers

3. The main threats to the Middle East and to our position there arise from :-

(a) the danger of disintegration due to the backwardness of many Middle East countries and the instability of their relations with each other; (b) the tension between Israel and the Arab States;

the opportunities which (a) and (b) provide for Communist penetration; the possibility of Russian armed aggression.

Objectives

4. Our general task must be to help Middle East Governments and peoples to develop in such a way as to avoid the above dangers, and to maintain and increase our influence. Our help must be directed to strengthening defence and to social and economic development. It should consist of guidance, example, technical expertise, co-operation for defence and, subject to the limits of our resources, material assistance. To obtain success we must retain the initiative and, once our policy is decided, carry it out confidently and vigorously in spite of possible criticism from individual States or interests.

Outer Fringe

5. While the central problems lie in the Semitic world, we must by no means leave out of account the great importance of the outer fringe of Greece, Persia and particularly Turkey.

Co-operation with the United States

6. In a major war the active partnership of the United States would be of supreme importance. In peace, economic development and refugee resettlement are impossible without large-scale United States participation. Alignment of policy with the United States is accordingly essential. This need not necessarily involve the loss of our special position.

France and other Western Powers

7. There is a tradition of rivalry between the United Kingdom and France in the Middle East. It must be our aim to allay this without sacrificing any essential British interest. There ought not to be any conflict of interest in the Middle East between us and any Western Power except to some extent with Italy and France over the disposal of the former Italian Colonies. We should do our best to convince the Western Union Powers of the necessity of holding the Middle Eastgasselbestern Europe.

Page 515

37492

B

2

IsraePage 516 of 662