684A.85/3–750: Telegram
The Ambassador in Israel (McDonald) to the Secretary of State
priority
164. Further re Embtel 158, March 6, Shiloah at his suggestion at residence night March 6, said “according to Reuter’s” Syrian Prime Minister Khaled Bey Azzam “has declared his government is considering closing Syrian frontiers with Jordan if five-year agreement Jordan-Israel becomes effective. Other Arab Governments already conferring what action to take.”
Shiloah hoped US would: (1) regard such statements as blows to peace and stability in ME and as interference internal affairs Jordan-Israel, (2) urge neighboring Arab capitals permit Israel-Jordan settle own affairs.
Re present authority Abdullah, Shiloah of opinion different from that expressed by the informant quoted in Amman Legtel 38, March 5. According Shiloah: (1) King has sent Israel message “Abdullah, son of Hussein, does not break his word.” (2) Samir did succeed in getting cooperation of more than “third rate politicians”. (3) Two members old cabinet asked to be included in Samir’s. (4) Tewfik “has promised King to work out solution with Israel”. (5) Another Israel-Jordan meeting tentatively fixed for night March 7 but this may be postponed.
Related subject: UK Minister1 with whom I consult regularly saw me March 6: In his “mature judgment maintenance of strong Israel at peace with Arab neighbors is essential to UK and US vital interests. Present Arab policy refusal to make peace with Israel is futile and dangerous to UK and US. If Arab diehards did succeed in destroying Israel, this would be disaster for UK and US in ME”. Helm has been urging this view on London.
Comment: I think opinion of Helm who is able and objective with no Palestine background to confuse his judgment is sound. End comment.2
Sent Department 164, repeated Damascus 10, Baghdad 10, Jidda 10, Beirut 10. Department pass Cairo 47, Geneva for PCC and TC 8, Amman 14, London 38, Paris 27, Moscow 8.
- Sir Alexander Knox Helm.↩
- On March 7 Ambassador McDonald sent telegram 165 to the Department of State for the personal attention of Charles S. Murphy, Administrative Assistant to President Truman. The message gave his opinion that the crisis in Jordan offered the President the “best opportunity to date to speed peace and stability in Middle East by giving Abdullah moral encouragement to hold firmly to his purpose to make five year non-aggression pact with Israel and thus break prolonged deadlock. The Ambassador suggested that Mr. Murphy ask the President to study his telegrams 158, 161, and 164. (684A.85/3–750)↩