Student Scholarship

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

This paper explores the organizational structure and functional responsibilities of the Office of Near Eastern Affairs within the Department of State as of early 1964. The author identifies the country desk officer as the central hub of communication between the Washington-based Department and diplomatic missions abroad. This role is described as an action-oriented position where officers are responsible for coordinating all United States activities within a specific country, drafting policy papers, and managing daily communications such as telegrams, airgrams, and official informal letters. 

The document details the specific geographical and political divisions within the office, including the Lebanon-Israel, Iraq-Jordan, U.A.R.-Syria, and Arabian Peninsula desks, as well as specialized regional and economic units. Through these divisions, the office manages complex bilateral relationships and monitors regional issues such as oil production, the Arab-Israeli rivalry, and the distribution of Jordan River water. The study emphasizes that while policy is formally set at higher levels, the desk officer's expertise and initial drafts often form the substantive basis for American foreign policy decisions. 

Furthermore, the paper examines how the office handles international crises and shifts in governance, specifically focusing on the 1963 coups d'etat in Iraq and Syria. It outlines the procedural requirements for diplomatic recognition and the practical challenges of ensuring the safety of American citizens during political instability. The final chapters discuss the office's interactions with outside entities, including the press, Congress, and the United Nations, using the Arab refugee debate as a primary example of how the Department coordinates with the Bureau of International Organizations to navigate sensitive multilateral negotiations.

Research Highlights

  • Primary Figures: Dr. Daniel M. Berman; various Department of State personnel including Andrew Killgore, William R. Crawford, and Rodger P. Davies. 

  • Key Events: Documentation of the 1963 Ba'athist coup d'état in Iraq and subsequent counter-coup by President Abdul Salem Aref; detailed internal State Department procedures for managing international crises and diplomatic recognition; the 1963 United Nations Special Political Committee debate regarding Arab refugees and Paragraph 11 of Resolution 194. 

  • Date/Location: January 6, 1964; Washington, D.C. (specifically the Office of Near Eastern Affairs in the Department of State). 

  • Archival Significance: Provides a primary account of the "desk officer" role and organizational structure within the Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs; includes a detailed 1961 unclassified briefing paper on Saudi Arabia covering geography, government, and oil interests; documents the impact of "Wristonization" on Foreign Service personnel and policy formation. 

Publication Date

1-1964

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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