Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 1

785.00/2–1352: Telegram

No. 402
The Ambassador in Israel (Davis) to the Department of State¹

confidential

Tel Aviv, February 13, 1952—7 p.m.

827. Took occasion this morning inform FonOff of views Dept expressed Deptel 540 January 31² re bombing of settlements in Jordan territory. In absence of FonMin Sharett, I spoke with Walter Eytan, Dir Gen FonOff referring to my earlier conversation with FonMin (Embtel 750 Jan 23). Eytan assured me that everything possible was being done to ensure success of modus vivendi with Jordan; said he had spoken recently with police commander at Afula, who states nocturnal infiltration by armed groups ceased immed when agreement became effective. This was interpreted us evidencing that Jordanian auths cld prevent infiltration when they wished to do so.

I mentioned fact that Israel public is not fully and accurately informed events size Beit Jala bombings while they have access to complete info re depredations committed against Israelis. This tends to make public feel that reprisals are justified while at same time it leaves them ignorant of unfortunate effect such incidents have abroad and unprepared for adverse reactions in UN and elsewhere.

Davis

1. Repeated to London, Paris, Ankara, Amman, Beirut, Damascus, and Jerusalem.
2. Printed as telegram 216 to Amman, Document 395.