77. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Turkey1
801. Department informed Turk Ambassador November 1 US will not advise against Jordanian adherence Baghdad Pact and if Jordan asks our views we will state we consider Pact useful instrument in [Page 182] development collective security for Middle East area and that we continue fully support it. However we pointed out that if Jordan adhered prior to settlement Jordan-Israeli boundary this would create an additional difficulty in connection with possible US adherence and that our purpose is to seek agreement on boundaries.
Turk Ambassador expressed appreciation for forthcoming US attitude which he characterized as “important step forward”. He was concerned however over possibility that Jordanian adherence might make US adherence less likely. He was informed that US adherence not immediately foreseeable in any event and we saw no reason why Turkish President should not sound out situation in Amman.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 780.5/11–255. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Kitchen and Allen who approved and signed for Hoover. Repeated to London, Amman, and Geneva for Secretary Dulles.↩