357.AC/6–2851: Telegram
The United States Representative on the Palestine Conciliation Commission (Palmer) to the Secretary of State
priority
241. Palun 411. PCC Polit Off Fisher yesterday visited Abdullah at Amman Palace in response to King’s invitation. After discussing certain specific aspects of Jordan-Israel relations of minor importance but which seemed to offer possibility of mutually advantageous solution although not yet developed to point warranting report to Dept, King asked Fisher to stay and talk with him about what he termed “a most personal and confidential problem which is breaking my heart”. (Karmi Bey was acting as interpreter.)
[Page 736]This problem, King said, was that of peace with Israel. “I am an old man”, he continued. “I know that my power is limited; I know that I am hated by my own son,” and he also referred to certain Arab leaders. “I also know that my own people distrust me because of my peace efforts. But despite all that, I know that I cld get peace settled if I only had some encouragement and cld get any reasonable concession from Israel”.
At this point Fisher reminded King of unsuccessful efforts year and half ago to facilitate talks with Israel and suggested that it was unlikely that any Israel Govt on eve of general elections wld be prepared to make concessions which it had refused eighteen months ago. King agreed but queried whether it wld not be possible to raise matter again after elections if these shld result in establishment of “stable and sane Jewish Govt.” Fisher replied that he had no doubt but what PCC if and when approached by Jordan Govt, wld most earnestly consider ways and means of improving relations between these two countries.
Fisher then asked what in King’s opinion wld be reaction of AL and his own Govt to such a move. King declared that he and his Govt were prepared to defy AL, but added “we cannot defy my own people”. He said his own people distrusted him because they suspected him of wanting to make peace without any concessions by Israel. He emphasized that this is an obstacle which he cannot overcome. He said “please understand that despite the AL I would have support of my own people and the tacit support at least of the British if I cld justify a peace by pointing to concessions made by the Jews. But without any concessions from them I am defeated before I even start”. Elaborating on concessions that might be required by Jordan, King spoke of territorial adjustments in triangle “or elsewhere” and of a corridor to the Gaza Strip “which then wld become Jordan territory”.
Concerning refugees, he said he realized that wholesale repatriation or even complete compensation was impossible. But he expressed his conviction that such bitterness cld be alleviated if propertied refugees were permitted to go to Israel for limited period to settle their affairs and if such refugees cld get the income at least from their property if not the property itself. This and reasonable settlement of blocked accounts, King insisted, wld make it possible for many to reestablish themselves elsewhere and to forget their bitterness.
King ended interview by saying, “Please help me. I can do it if I get some help and encouragement. But I am an old man. I have not much time left and I don’t want to die of a broken heart”.
Dept will recall that Fisher during past few years has met King Abdullah often on informal basis and has had frequent opportunities [Page 737] for friendly discussion of Jordan–Israel problem. Fisher had not seen King for some time prior to mtg yesterday and was impressed by fact that he had aged greatly and that his appeal to Fisher both at beginning and end of his discussion of this “personal and confidential problem” was almost an imploring one.
Am taking to Drew tomorrow and to Davis July 1 copies of this tel.