684A.85/2–2650: Telegram
The Ambassador in Israel (McDonald) to the Secretary of State
priority
142. Further re Embtel 140, February 25.1 Shiloah and Kollek at residence February 26 outlined meeting with Jordan night February 24 follow. Shilban [Shiloah] and Dayan for Israel and King, Samir and Fawzi Mulki of Cabinet for Jordan. Fawzi had learned King’s proposal only morning 24th and still had only general idea of it.
At beginning 24th Shiloah announced Israel cabinet agreement in principle King’s five year nonaggression proposal and delegation’s authority to discuss details. Shiloah added that at PCC months earlier when Porter asked if Israel would agree peace through other form than treaty, Israel’s reply had been affirmative.
Abdullah “showing joy” said he had “made up his mind would not go back on his word and if his present government would not approve he would get new government that would.” King suggested Shiloah read out text of agreement previous meeting “so that Fawzi would clearly understand and that they then proceed to item by item discussion in order to make his personal text more precise.”
After pleasant social dinner there followed three hours more of discussion in which King was active. Finally, both sides initialled “agreed set of principles”.
[Page 758]Next meeting is to be February 28. Meanwhile, both sides to prepare draft in legal form to be compared and agree on and to be finally signed at meeting few days after 28th.
According to Shiloah following are chief provisions of “agreed principles.”
- 1.
- Does not supersede armistice agreement, but is “additional layer in process of peace-making.” King preferred this form of “a further step” to be termed “friendship and nonaggression” as advance over armistice because initiated by states themselves and not at injunction of UN.
- 2.
- Does not change existing armistice lines but sets up sub-committees to find solutions for all territorial and other issues. Jerusalem partition and outlet to sea specifically mentioned. First sub-committee attempt to be partition of no-man’s land, for example, Government House and Latrun areas without prejudice to final territorial settlements.
- 3.
- Initiation of normal trade and economic cooperation and, as part of this, grant of free zones for Jordan in Haifa.
- 4.
- Israel agrees to start payment immediately of financial compensation to Arab Jerusalem property owners.
- Freedom of access to Scopus and Bethlehem to be worked out. Israel to be free to use judgment whether this arrangement should be followed by re-opening of Hadassah hospital.
- 6.
- Access to and freedom of Holy Places to be provided by joint guarantee of two countries to UN and by their acceptance of international supervision.
In explanation of above, Shiloah said he had made “many long speeches in previous meetings to bring Jordan to acceptance principle of international supervision Holy Places.” Shiloah had argued their two countries “must satisfy reasonable members of assembly.”2 He says agreement should go “long way toward relieving doubts of good faith two countries toward Holy Places.” Hopes agreement will break ice and set pattern for other Arab states and Israel and meanwhile open commercial intercourse with Jordan. When leaving Shiloah concluded “It is not yet in the bag, but we are optimistic.”
Comment: Shiloah obviously delighted with progress to date. End comment.
Sent Department 142, Department pass Geneva priority 5, Cairo 41, London 33, Paris 21, Moscow 6, Jerusalem 13, pouched Arab capitals.
- Not printed; it reported that Foreign Minister Sharett, in a “cheerful” voice, had telephoned Ambassador McDonald at 9:15 that morning that he had good news. A few minutes later, Mr. Sharett’s son arrived with a handwritten note from the Foreign Minister informing that Israel and Jordan had initialed a nonaggression pact the previous evening (684A.85/2–2550).↩
- Presumably the United Nations General Assembly.↩