Posted on 02/04/2008 10:11:36 AM PST by SmithL
LONDON, United Kingdom (AP) -- Newly declassified British documents provide a window into heated Cabinet discussions on Iraq, Israeli-Arab relations, protecting the environment, and a secret deal on when the prime minister would step aside for his ambitious No. 2.
Although many of the preoccupations are the same, these are not about Tony Blair's final months as prime minister. The Cabinet notes released Monday provide a glimpse into the back rooms of Britain's post-World War II government as the sun was setting on both the British Empire and the era of Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
The notebooks of Cabinet Secretary Sir Norman Brook, covering the years 1954-1955, document discussions on what became known as the Baghdad Pact, a short-lived British-backed alliance comprising Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Pakistan aimed at keeping the Soviet Union out of the Middle East. The pact collapsed three years later when a coup overthrew Iraq's British-installed monarchy — heralding the end of British influence in the Middle East.
During those discussions, Churchill dropped an apparent bombshell: His friend, British politician James de Rothschild, told him Israel was considering joining the British Commonwealth.
"James de Rothschild has told me (that) Israel is likely to abandon dreams of independence (and) adhere instead to (the) British Commonwealth," Churchill said. "(Their) ambassador in (London) has confirmed this.
"(It would) be (a) remarkable initiative from them: it (should) not be disregarded, when the time comes," he said.
The idea, however, never materialized.
Often the issues mirror contemporary concerns — while showing how much has changed.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
fyi
Churchill is a mythical character who never lived. Like King Arthur. Robinhood, OTOH, was a real person.
[snip] The notebooks of Cabinet Secretary Sir Norman Brook, covering the years 1954-1955, document discussions on what became known as the Baghdad Pact, a short-lived British-backed alliance comprising Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Pakistan aimed at keeping the Soviet Union out of the Middle East. The pact collapsed three years later when a coup overthrew Iraq’s British-installed monarchy — heralding the end of British influence in the Middle East. During those discussions, Churchill dropped an apparent bombshell: His friend, British politician James de Rothschild, told him Israel was considering joining the British Commonwealth... The idea, however, never materialized. [end]
ping
Wow. Good find, thanks.
The Baghdad Pact did not collapse after the 1958 revolution that overthrew Iraq’s monarchy, though it was on life support after that. I remember it lasting until 1979, under the name of CENTO. What really finished it off was the Iranian Revolution, and its end was probably a factor in the Soviets invading Afghanistan at the end of the year.
Well put.
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