Memorandum from David Bruce to President Harry S. Truman

August 15, 1952 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Your Luncheon with His Majesty King Faisal II of Iraq His Majesty Ring Faisal II of Iraq and His Poyal Highness the Frince Regent of Iruq, Abdul Ilah, will arrive at Washington National Airport, Saturday, August 16 at 11:45 neme They will lunch with you at the White House at 1:00 pell. The King and his uncle the Regent vill have spent the previous four days in New York City, where they landed on August 12 to begin an informal four veek visit to the United States at your invitation. While in Washington the King's itinerary incluies a visit to Mt. Vernon, an informal pionic by State Department efficials and a day at Aunepolie with the incoming clasa of Midshipmen. In addition, he vill be entertained at a dinner given by the Iragi Minister and Charge d' 'Affaires ad interim, Abdullah Bakr. From Washington the King vill proceed West through Detroit and Chicago, to Denver, San Francisco, Los Angales, the Southrest, TVA and Fort Knox, returning to Nau York on September 9. He will -devote the majority of his attention to irrigation and reclamation projects, particularly those in the Salt Fiver Valley of Arisona and the Imperial Valley of California. Agricultural problems and physiography in our Southwest bear close analogy to those in Iraq and it is hoped that our solutions to these problems vill be utilised under the Iragi Govornment's new scheme for economic and social development. Irag's plans for development have come within the realm of schievement by the recent and manifold increase in oil revenues accruing to the Government. Iraq holds a position of great importance to the United States for several reasons: Iragi oil production and reserves, which figure largely in Western economy and defemee and of which American petroleum compenies own 23.75 percent; Iraq's geographic position athvart major communication lines for three continents; its role as an important Moslem state among the vorld's 300 million Mosleme, and its value as a base in close proximity to the Soviet border. TRUMAN "HATIONAL ARCHIVES AND CONTRESS