684A.85/1–2253: Telegram
No. 546
The Secretary of
State to the Embassy in
Israel
702. Embassy requested investigate without divulging source and report soonest following information received by Department:
After Major Nutov, Israel MAC representative, failed recently induce DeRidder modify his attitude in MAC he informed DeRidder Israel would denounce Local Commanders Agreement with effect January 22 on pretext Jordan failure to honor agreement. Agreement expires automatically January 31 and is subject discussion by MAC 10 days before expiration. After verifying this Israel intention with Gaon, chief Israel MAC delegate, on January 13 DeRidder so informed Jordan MAC representative.
DeRidder stated he had received strong impression Israel would stage series incidents on Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese and Jordan borders with motive demonstrating Arab misuse of arms supplied by British since US has refused intervene. He mentioned specifically Qatanna where no demarcation line exists. DeRidder gave as additional reasons for anticipated Israel action: (1) Perturbation at recent series of adverse MAC decisions, e.g. Scopus, and Israel failure redress balance, and (2) failure win UN support for direct Arab-Israel peace negotiations.
If DeRidder’s estimate Israel intentions accurate Israel obviously confident well-timed propaganda can obscure fact of Israel aggression and place onus on Arabs. Various elements of information at hand seem to bear out DeRidder’s contention that denunciation of Local Commanders Agreement is precursor to some important Israel action along border.