66. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, March 9, 1959, 3:30 p.m.1
SUBJECT
- Israel’s Request for Assistance With Its Jordan Water Development Project
PARTICIPANTS
- The Acting Secretary
- Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel Minister for Foreign Affairs
- Mr. Abba Eban, Ambassador, Embassy of Israel
- Mr. Yaacov Herzog, Minister, Embassy of Israel
- NEA—William M. Rountree
- NE—William L. Hamilton
During a courtesy call on the Acting Secretary, Mrs. Meir spoke in support of Israel’s request, recently submitted to the Department, for financial assistance to Israel’s comprehensive plan for the development of water resources, including the increased use of the waters of the Jordan River.2 Mrs. Meir cited three factors which she said argued for United States support: (1) The adaptation of Israel’s blueprint to fit the framework of the Johnston Plan, which was accepted by the technicians of the several states affected; (2) the selection of Lake Tiberias as the point from which the water would be taken rather than the Jordan River at the Banat Ya’qub in the demilitarized zone, thus eliminating the principal political issue; and (3) the United States decision to assist with the Yarmuk diversion in Jordan, also envisaged by the Johnston Plan, which tended to suggest that the United States should assist with a project of comparable scope in Israel. She added that Israel’s development plans have reached a stage where further delay in beginning the Jordan project will prove increasingly costly.
The Acting Secretary asked her if the Israel scheme had to be executed in one step. Mrs. Meir and Ambassador Eban replied to the effect that three or four years would be required and the project could be done in stages. Mrs. Meir said that, ideally, they would like a United States commitment to assist with the project from beginning to end. The Acting Secretary commented that such a commitment was impossible for statutory reasons. She suggested that as an alternative, Israel hoped the United States could agree to assist with the initial stage, leaving the question of United States participation in subsequent stages for later discussion.
The Acting Secretary asked if Israel had in mind borrowing from the Development Loan Fund, which at present had no uncommitted resources. Ambassador Eban replied that the Israelis hoped discussions between the two governments could be begun at once to determine the acceptability of the plan to the United States from all standpoints except the financial. The question of United States economic assistance could be taken up when the Development Loan Fund obtained new lending authority.
In conclusion, the Acting Secretary said the Israel plan is being considered by various offices in the Department and that Mrs. Meir’s remarks would be kept in mind in our consideration of the proposal.
- Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199. Confidential. Drafted by Hamilton on March 10 and approved by Herter on March 16. See also infra . A briefing memorandum, March 6, noted that Meir was in the United States as a speaker to raise funds for the United Jewish Appeal. (Department of State, Central Files, 033.84A11/3–659) A summary of the conversation was transmitted to Tel Aviv in telegram 598, March 10. (Ibid., 684A.85322/3–1059)↩
- A memorandum of Eban’s conversation with Dillon on February 19 concerning this request is ibid., 684A.85322/2–1959; a copy of the 7-page request, dated January 28, is attached to a briefing memorandum for Dillon, February 19. (Ibid., NEA/IAI Files: Lot 70 D 254, Jordan Waters, 1959–1960)↩