62. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan1
108. Dept has noted certain misconceptions re relationship Secretary Aug 26 statement2 to area defense arrangements. To extent you believe desirable, you may present orally and informally to govt officials clarification on following lines:
In our view Secretary’s statement on Arab-Israel problem and efforts create defense arrangements in no way conflict. Northern tier concept intended meet threat aggression from outside area while Secretary’s statement directed at intra-area problem. Only relationship derives from fact détente on Arab-Israel problem would greatly facilitate creation on sound basis defense structure against outside aggression.
Treaty engagements mentioned by Secretary would cover only attempts by Israel or Arab states to alter by force permanent boundaries agreed to by Israel and Arab states. Treaty would not apply to aggression from outside area and therefore would not conflict with area defense arrangements built around Turk-Iraq Pact. We do not contemplate treaty including both Israel and Arab states but envisage one treaty between guaranteeing powers and Israel and separate treaty or treaties between guaranteeing powers and one or more Arab states. Exact nature of treaties would be worked out of course in discussions with interested states.
Secretary’s statement does not indicate any weakening US support for Turk-Iraq Pact. Our policy this regard remains as stated Deptel 24 to Amman.3
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/9–855. Secret. Drafted by Burdett and approved by Jernegan who signed for Hoover. Also sent to Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Jidda, Karachi, Tripoli, Paris, and Tel Aviv; repeated to London, Ankara, and Tehran.↩
- Reference is to Dulles’ address concerning the Arab-Israeli dispute, delivered on August 26; for text, see Department of State Bulletin, September 5, 1955, pp. 378–380.↩
- Printed as telegram 32 to Baghdad, Document 58.↩