CHANCERIESTHE DIPLOMATIC ATLAS

Arab Union of Iraq and Jordan

Competing Projects of Arab Unity

The union developed amid anxiety about Egypt and Syria’s creation of the United Arab Republic. In early February 1958, Dulles reported consultations with Iraq and Jordan, among other governments concerned about the new republic. Arab unity had broad popular appeal, but governments disagreed over who would lead it and how existing states would be combined. The Egyptian–Syrian union centralized foreign affairs in Cairo. [5]

Recognition before Diplomatic Integration

Iraq and Jordan proclaimed the Arab Union on 14 February 1958. A federal constitution took effect on 12 May, followed by a cabinet on 19 May. The union joined two Hashemite monarchies while preserving their separate kingdoms. Its brief existence ended after the Iraqi revolution of 14 July, when King Faisal II was killed; Jordan declared the union dissolved effective 1 August. [3] [4] [1]

The proposed union left Washington uncertain about whom its diplomats would represent and address. In May, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles pressed for foreign relations to pass through a common ministry. Samir Rifai, Jordan’s prime minister, replied that foreign ambassadors could not be accredited until that integration had occurred and that aid must continue through the two governments. American recognition on 28 May therefore did not establish formal relations with the union: the existing American relationships with Iraq and Jordan continued separately. [2] [1]

Dissolution and the Separate Relationships

The overthrow of Iraq’s monarchy removed one of the union’s two dynastic governments. Qasim’s republic subsequently withdrew from the Baghdad Pact and redirected Iraq’s foreign policy. [6] [1]

Sources

  1. Office of the Historian: Iraq

    1930 recognition; 1931 relations; Arab Union; 1967, 1972, 1984, 1991, and 2004 chronology

  2. American doubts over the Arab Union’s diplomatic machinery

    FRUS 1958-1960, Volume XI, document 165, 20 May 1958, paragraphs 2-6 and notes 3-4; Department of State Central Files 786.00/5-2058 and 786.00/5-2258

  3. Stages in the Arab Union’s formation

    FRUS 1958-1960, Volume XII, document 105, editorial footnote on proclamation on 14 February, constitution on 12 May, and cabinet on 19 May 1958

  4. King Faisal II and the Hashemite Arab Union

    Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Arabic account, final paragraphs on the 1958 union and Faisal II’s death on 14 July 1958

  5. Memorandum From the Secretary of State to the President

    FRUS 1958–1960, volume XIII, document 194, 8 February 1958; Dulles’s discussion of Arab nationalism, consultations with neighboring governments, and recognition of the proposed Egyptian–Syrian union.

  6. Research Study Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency: Iraq Under Baath Rule, 1968–1976

    FRUS 1969–1976, volume XXVII, document 317, November 1976; historical setting, the 1958 revolution, withdrawal from the Baghdad Pact, and the Baath consolidation after 1968. Contemporary assessments are not treated as neutral descriptions of every group.

Notes

  • The country guide’s 19 May formation date refers to the union cabinet. The FRUS chronology separately records the February proclamation and May constitution. This union of Iraq and Jordan was distinct from the United Arab Republic of Egypt and Syria. [3] [1]

Related Reading

Cite This Article

Arab Union of Iraq and Jordan. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record version 83f387b2dc897bb3d9d7.

Download citation