Office of the Historian

884A.85/6–3050: Telegram

The Ambassador in Israel (McDonald) to the Secretary of State

confidential
Tel Aviv, June 30, 1950—1 p. m.

485. Re Deptel 346, June 28 [27].1 Shiloah at my request at residence (Kollek also present) hour June 29 explained deterioration as follows:

1.
Neither side desire present tension. Only one basic cause is delaying task in starting Jordan-Israel peace negotiations which he attributed to failure United States Government and UK Government to give Abdullah assurances of assistance if Jordan’s negotiations brought Arab League threat of sanctions. Absence restraining influence of prospective peace negotiations Shiloah no longer able urge successfully continued Israel border “leniency;” hence, resulting stiffening of controls and “possible occasional violations of correct procedure.”
2.
Incidental causes deterioration include:
(a)
MAC is not now effective because failure Jordan, despite King’s repeated promises, to replace Abdullah El Tel by comparable strong man on MAC;
(b)
Failure King keep promise to Shiloah to order Glubb name high officer to work with Dayan. At last meeting with Shiloah, June 12 (Embtel 456, June 16) King “apologized” for delay and again promised [Page 945] to order Glubb name officer meet Dayan and name strong man on MAC. Neither has been named.
(c)
Jordan’s “slackness” in patroling own borders.
(d)
Israel is “technically” responsible for failure implement plan set up joint border patrols because it demands prior release three recently captured Israel patrol guards.
(e)
Failure Jordan accept Riley’s suggestion that Glubb meet Yadin.
3.
Example “some progress” is setting up June 30 of frontier markers agreed to June 15.
4.
Shiloah sees “danger” in “UK Government policy favoring six months delay Jordan-Israel peace negotiations;” because “probability delay will worsen not improve” chances successful negotiations.

Comment: I consider Shiloah’s analysis is honest and generally sound but possibility Israel is using stiffer policy as form of pressure on Jordan cannot be dismissed. Believe Israel genuinely anxious resume negotiations, because of urgent necessity win peace on at least one front. I recognize failure King’s policy negotiating without knowledge or support his government but I doubt wisdom reported UK policy six month’s delay and believe that affirmation by Israel of earlier willingness make “immediate compensation” for Arab urban property Jerusalem and agree Joint Claims Commission other property if coupled with UK Government and United States Government encouragement of Jordan to negotiate might break log jam. Shiloah says Israel “would cooperate”.

Sent Department 485, repeated information Jerusalem 46, Department pass information Amman 47.

McDonald
  1. This was a repeat of telegram 90 to Jerusalem, not printed; but see footnote 1, supra.↩