Office of the Historian

867N.01/10–2348: Telegram

Mr. Wells Stabler to the Acting Secretary of State

secret
Amman, October 23, 1948—10 a. m.

89. Careful investigation does not disclose King has ever requested Belgian Consul General1 (Deptel 24, October 182) to act as intermediary [Page 1506] between him and Shertok. Nor is there any evidence Nieuwenhuys has done more than talk with King on several occasions about general Palestine question. While King has freely admitted to me he not adverse to considering separate peace negotiations without other Arab states, provided acceptable plan put forward, and that he has had contact with Shertok through Prince Abdel Majid Haidar, Transjordan Minister to London, and Sassoon of Israeli Foreign Office then in Paris (mytels 47, September 3, [53?] September 17,3 56, September 204 and 86, October 21) (this contact broken off some time ago as result leak which was given publicity in Arab States), doubt whether he now engaged in such conversations and whether in any event he would choose Belgian Consul General … as his intermediary.

. . . . Abdullah is, of course, renowned for being frank and outspoken and it is likely he made certain comments regarding his attitude toward Jews and Palestine settlement which Belgian interpreted as King’s desire he should transmit them to Shertok. It is not at all improbable Belgian did convey such comments to Jews and that during subsequent general conversations with King mentioned his talks with Shertok and other Jewish officials. However, if this is so, whole episode has made very little impression on King as he has never mentioned matter to me or British Minister Kirkbride. It seems almost certain Belgian has assumed function on his own responsibility.5

Stabler
  1. Jean Nieuwenhuys.↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. Nos. 47 and 53 not printed.↩
  4. Not printed; it reported information from King Abdullah that “month and half ago had received several communications from Shertok through Sassoon of Israeli Foreign Office, then in Paris, apparently dealing with direct peace negotiations. Had replied urging Jews to stop aggression in Jerusalem. Jews did not heed his advice and he now pessimistic that lasting solution can be found without force of arms.” (501.BB Palestine/9–2048)↩
  5. Mr. Stabler, on November 4, advised of information from Mr. Kirkbride that the King had told him “he had requested Belgian Consul General … to talks with Israeli Delegate to GA along lines mentioned mytel 86, October 21.… Since it is recalled Belgian was last in Amman on October 17, it appears King was not quite accurate when he said (paragraph seven mytel 86) he had not asked any one previously to convey his views to Jews.” (Telegram 104 from Amman, 867N.01/11–448)↩