Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XIX, Arab-Israeli Crisis and War, 1967

304. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan¹

Washington, June 16, 1967, 10:03 p.m.

212138. Amman 4355.² Deliver to action officers opening of business June 17.

1. If Hussein asks you for categorical assurances that there is no distinction between our policy on arms delivery to Israel and to Jordan you may reply that we have suspended the signing of any sales arrangements or related new commitments concerning arms deliveries to Israel and the Arab states. We have no grant program of arms or military equipment to Israel. We are now undertaking a thorough study of the overall arms supply problem in the Middle East and no final decisions have yet been reached.

2. Department believes instructions contained State’s 211613 should be reassuring to Hussein.

3. FYI. We have made a distinction between the two countries as far as commercial shipments where export licenses have already been issued are concerned. We are also continuing negotiations, up to but not including signature, of new agreements with Israel under the conditions described Defense 7852. For example, immediately after outbreak hostilities we shipped moderate quantities of ammunition, gas masks and other sundry items to Israel. You should know also that some [$]38 million of licensed materiel on Munitions List for Israel still in pipeline has not been embargoed. Largest single item is 20 million tank parts. While nothing is in similar category for Jordan, some 56 million is in pipeline for Saudi Arabia, including 50 million for Hawks. We point this out to you so that you recognize that foregoing presentation is intentionally carefully worded. End FYI.

Rusk

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, DEF 12–5 ISR. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Marshall W. Wiley (NEA/ARN) and Houghton; cleared by Hoopes, Director for Operations in the Office of Politico-Military Affairs Joseph J. Wolf, Atherton, and Davies; and approved by Eugene Rostow.
2. Burns stated in telegram 4355 from Amman, June 16, that he planned to meet with King Hussein on June 17 to convey the contents of telegram 211613 but anticipated that Hussein would press him for assurances that the United States was making no distinction between Jordan and Israel in military assistance matters. (Ibid., DEF 19–8 US–JORDAN) He noted that SecDef telegram 7852, June 15, appeared to place Israel in a slightly more favored category. Telegram 211613 is summarized in footnote 3, Document 295. SecDef telegram 7852 has not been found.