Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V, Part 2

867N.01/12–2948: Telegram

Mr. Wells Stabler to the Acting Secretary of State

secret

Amman, December 29, 1948—8 p. m.

175. Following obtained from Kirkbride this morning:

1. At meeting December 28 in Jerusalem attended by Sassoon, Dayan and Abdullah el Tel, Israelis informed Transjordan representative that Israel was no longer interested in armistice and insisted on immediate peace negotiations. Apparently Israelis took severe line indicating it must be either peace or war. This is believed to be in nature reply to Abdullah’s message Sassoon (paragraph 3 mytel 172, December 28¹).

2. King is considerably worried by this situation as, with present Jewish attack in Negev, it is obvious Israel entirely prepared continue hostilities to achieve its ends. Kirkbride thought it likely that unless Abdullah agreed to peace negotiations almost at once Jews might well attack Iraqis thereby rendering Transjordan’s position hopeless.

3. King is now following own line in respect Israelis and Prime Minister uninformed. Latter has reached stage where he is no longer particularly interested in developments. Only question of time before he resigns.

4. As Egyptian troops in Bethlehem area cannot be trusted (mytel 169, December 23²), Arab Legion has moved regiment from Akaba to Bethlehem leaving Akaba unprotected. In view unsatisfactory state of affairs in Bethlehem, Transjordan authorities are reconsidering attitude toward Egyptian units keeping in mind fact that punitive action would probably result in final break with Egypt.

5. Certain evidence now points to air raid on Jericho being carried out by Jewish plane with bombs captured from Egyptians.³ Raid may have been for psychological purposes as bombs were dropped in such a manner as to cause no damage. British Royal Air Force in Egypt have reported they satisfied it not Egyptian plane.

Sent Department 175; repeated Jerusalem 82.

Stabler

1. Not printed; paragraph 3 stated in part: “King gave account [to Mr. Stabler] of steps he is now taking on political level to reach understanding with Jews. Several weeks ago Sassoon of Israeli Foreign Office sent message to King that he would like to confer with responsible Transjordan official (mytel 155, December 13). King sent reply through Abdullah el Tel and his private physician, Shawkat Pasha, suggesting certain action Jews might follow to indicate their sincerity of intentions. Apparently main points were return of Jaffa to Arabs and permission for Arab refugees to go back to Lydda and Ramie. King remarked that if Jews did accept his proposition, his position vis-à-vis Arab League would be much stronger in that he could point to this achievement as concrete evidence of his efforts in behalf of Palestine Arabs. Expected answer from Sassoon December 27 or 28. If reply is in negative it will not change his present policy toward Israel or his belief that two countries could cooperate.” (867N.01/12–2848)
2. Not printed.
3. Amman, in its telegram 172, gave the King’s comment that the “air raid on Jericho and Shuneh night December 24 may have been carried out by Egyptians. Bomb fragment bore words ‘Farouk to Shertok’ in the Arabic letters.”