867N.01/6–2049: Telegram
The Chargé in Jordan (Stabler) to the Secretary of State
255. In view Deptel 84, June 19, and since it not possible communicate with Tel Aviv expeditiously I presented proposal contained in Deptel 82 June 171 to Foreign Minister this morning and left him with aide-mémoire. Foreign Minister stated that Transjordan was anxious to settle questions at issue peacefully but felt Israeli demands excessive. If agreement could be reached on principle of returning life in Jerusalem to normal he believed there would be no difficulty in reaching understanding on present problems. Without agreement on this principle he was not hopeful. Foreign Minister promised take matter up with goverment urgently and give reply soonest. (It is understood Cabinet will consider proposal at Wednesday meeting, in meanwhile I will discuss matter with King and Prime Minister.)
[Page 1159]Suggestion that presentation proposal be delayed (Legtel 253, June 182) was predicated on my belief that if Government House question finally settled to satisfaction both parties, MAC under Riley could start on other questions with clean slate and Transjordan Government would have more faith in Riley’s ability to bring about agreement and in Israel’s sincerity.3
Sent Department 255, repeated Jerusalem 124, Tel Aviv 21.
- See footnote 1 to telegram 375, p. 1154.↩
- Not printed, but see footnote 2, p. 1157.↩
- Chargé Stabler reported, on June 22, that earlier the same day he had been handed an aide-mémoire by the Jordanian Foreign Minister, which welcomed the U.S. proposal but noted that any agreement must be without prejudice to the ultimate status of Jerusalem (telegram 259 from Amman, 867N.01/6–2249).↩