684.85/4–2550: Telegram
The Minister in Jordan (Drew) to the Secretary of State
82. Following is translation of statement received from Jordan Foreign Ministry which includes text of Parliament’s decision of April 24 on union eastern and western Jordan. Covering Foreign Office note states decision approved unanimously by members both houses and took effect from moment of signing by King at 5 p. m. Apr. 24.
“After the National Parliament studied and debated in its meeting held on Monday April 24, the resolution of unity between the two banks of the Jordan, this resolution having been submitted by the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of the Jordan, the National Parliament approved it and decided to submit it to His Majesty, the Hashemite Exalted King, in order to have the Royal approval and signature. This is the decision:
“In confirmation of the confidence of the nation and in recognition of the good efforts for the realization of national aspirations exerted by His Majesty Abdullah Ben-el-Husein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of the Jordan, and in accordance with the right of self-determination, the existing situation of the two banks of the Jordan, [Page 873] the eastern and western, their national, physical, geographical unity and the necessities of their common interests, the Jordan Parliament, representing both banks, decides on this day, Monday, April the 24th, 1950, and declares the following:
- “1. Approval is granted to complete unity between the two banks of the Jordan, the eastern and western, and their amalgamation in one single state—the Hashemite Kingdom of the Jordan, under the crown of His Hashemite Majesty, King Abdullah Ben-el-Husein, the Exalted. This will be upon the basis of Parliamentary Constitutional rule and complete equality in rights and duties of all the citizens.
- “2. Arab rights in Palestine shall be protected. Those rights shall be defended with all possible legal means and this unity shall in no way be connected with the final settlement of Palestine’s just cause within the limits of national hopes Arab cooperation and international justice.
- “3. This decision which has been taken by the two houses of the National Parliament, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, representing both banks of the Jordan shall be submitted to His Majesty, the Exalted King, and it shall be effective as soon as it is signed and approved by His Majesty.
- “4. Declaration and implementation of this decision by the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of the Jordan shall follow as soon as the decision receives the Royal approval and signature. It shall then be announced to the sister Arab states and the friendly foreign states according to traditional diplomatic methods.”1
- The Legation in Amman forwarded to the Department on May 1 a translation with slightly different wording. (Despatch 69, 684.85/3–150)↩