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

684A85/1–2453: Telegram

No. 548
The Ambassador in Jordan (Green) to the Department of State¹

confidential
priority

Amman, January 24, 1953—3 p.m.

594. Deterioration in armistice relations between Israel and Jordan is causing great apprehension here. Jordanian Government convinced that recent incidents on armistice line are result of careful planning by Israel. They fear that they are merely precursor of more serious military aggression. Israel motive presumed to be desire to impress western powers with undesirability of arming Arab states but Israel appears to intend to make Jordan appear responsible (see Tel Aviv’s 1167, January 21).² This idea reflected in sensational article in Israel press.

Embassy assured on unimpeachable authority that Arab Legion has taken radical steps to avoid possible clashes on armistice line.

When Israelis announced that they about to denounce local commanders agreement Jordan MAC representative said that Jordan would enter into no further such agreements as they had been violated by Israel and had proved ineffective.

Green

1. Repeated to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad, Cairo, Ankara, Paris, and London.
2. Not printed, but see footnote 3, Document 545.