867N.01/3–2449: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
1177. Latest Foreign Office info re Israeli-Transjordan (TJ) undercover negotiations Jerusalem (Paragraph 2, 3 and 6, Embassy 1153, March 23)1 is report from Amman that Israelis have reduced demand for 15 km. belt to belt 5 km. deep and 60 km. long starting from point TJ line north of Lydda and continuing along Iraqi front to point not far from Jenin. Message sent late last night states Israelis gave TJ until 1900 hours March 23 to accept and that TJ answer was to be given at meeting later that night. Message indicated King considering acceptance even though it involved “all remaining plain land”.
2. Late today Burrows said he had no further info re reply made by TJ but that above info had been communicated to Department along lines final sentence Embreftel. He described situation as “somewhat better but still extremely worrying”. He was impressed by fact TJ negotiating under duress of clearest kind and was relieved that Abdullah had not put UK on spot by seeking its advice.
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