501.BB Palestine/5–149: Telegram
The Chargé in Transjordan (Stabler) to the Secretary of State
193. During call on Prime Minister this morning I conveyed to him views of US Government regarding refugee question as contained in Depcirtel April 29, 5 p. m. and left him aide-mémoire on subject.
Prime Minister expressed appreciation for these views and for fact [Page 963] that US Govt is continuing to press Israel regarding acceptance repatriation principle in accordance GA Resolution December 11 He said Transjordan accepted in principle resettlement of refugees not desiring return their homes and was well aware of necessity for resettling such refugees. Transjordan Govt recognized that not all refugees would elect to return their homes. However, Transjordan still maintained its position of insisting that Israel accept principle of repatriation of refugees who do desire return their homes. Settlement of refugee question which he regarded as urgent factor in solution of Palestine problem would be made much easier if refugees had free choice of whether to return to their homes or to resettle in Arab states or elsewhere.
Tawfiq Pasha commented that while he had adopted common line with other Arab states regarding repatriation principle at Beirut meetings with PCC, he had in separate conversations with Ethridge and McGhee expressed willingness and awareness regarding resettlement principle. He felt such parallel approach was realistic as on one hand it did not work against common line of Arab states and on other hand it did provide positive line in assisting PCC work out overall solution to problem.
Prime Minister pointed out that one of essentials in solution refugee question was matter of boundaries. He hoped that UN and US would adhere to partition principle and that Israel would be obliged accept settlement on this basis. He stated that it was clear that solution refugee question would be simpler if Arabs should be compensated by Israel for territories over and above those allotted to Israel by November 29 Resolution. Return to Arabs of such territories would make resettlement much less difficult.
Prime Minister continued that he hoped have opportunity hold further talks with McGhee regarding possible assistance to Transjordan in technical and financial fields. He mentioned number projects and indicated Transjordan Govt might prepare certain concrete proposals. He assured that whatever assistance was received would be put to profitable use in connection Transjordan development.
In conclusion I emphasized to Prime Minister great importance which US Govt attached to acceptance by Arab states of resettlement principle and urged he use his influence with other Arab states in this regard. I also emphasized that US would, as indicated in President’s message of April 21 to King, continue press Israel regarding acceptance repatriation principle. Prime Minister thought this was realistic approach and would endeavor to do what he could regarding other Arab states.
[Page 964]Sent Department, repeated Geneva for USDel PCC, pouched Arab Capitals, London, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv.1
- The Department’s reply, on May 16, requested Amman to “express Dept’s appreciation to PriMin for his cooperative and humane attitude towards acceptance resettlement principle. However, you shld endeavor convey to him idea that, while USG deeply hopeful that TJ will be prepared receive refugees up to its absorptive capacity, in its own interests TJ shld keep in mind natural limiting factors of country and should not over-extend itself in this connection.” The reply gave the Department’s tentative estimates that “maximum potential absorptive capacity TJ together with area of central Pal presently under Arab mil occupation wld permit assimilation of not more than 150,000–200,000 refugees … Moreover, assimilation this number possible only on basis intensive development TJ and Arab Pal over two or three year period.” (Telegram 60, 501.BB Palestine/5–1649)↩