684A.85/2–1453: Telegram
No. 568
The Ambassador in Jordan (Green) to the Department of State1
688. Deptel 6252 received noon Friday 13 on which day all government offices closed; therefore action prescribed was deferred until February 14.
In absence of Prime Minister (see Embtel 641, February 5)3 I called on acting Prime Minister and acting Foreign Minister Said Mufti. Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs acted as interpreter.
After I had conveyed substance of “analysis” in reference to orally making clear distinction between paragraphs 1–5 and paragraphs 6 and 7 acting Prime Minister expressed appreciation of attitude of US Government and of understanding of the situation reflected in my representations.
Acting Prime Minister detailed at some length efforts of HKJ to diminish infiltration. He stated emphatically that government believed that infiltration was not in interest of HKJ. He referred to the numbers of infiltrators or alleged infiltrators captured and held in detention camps. He said that he would speak to CINC tomorrow in regard to possible reinforcement of Arab Legion on border.
Comment, general:
Representations made in compliance instructions in reftel have served to clear the atmosphere, promote understanding and improve relations between HKJ and US Government.
Re paragraph 1. Infiltration may be reduced but it will continue create difficulties until refugee problem is solved and until peace is established. Although we may understand why it is necessary that Arab families be separated and that Arabs be separated from the lands on which they formerly dwelled, it is often difficult for the uneducated Arabs to understand that they commit a crime going to visit their parents or in harvesting crops on lands which they formerly cultivated. No amount of policing can absolutely prevent infiltration in these circumstances.
Re paragraph 2. The Department will note that in the aide-mémoire the language of reftel re national guard has been slightly modified. I feel it necessary to make this modification in order to avoid any language which might be considered derogatory to the [Page 1135] national guard. The national guard having stood the brunt of recent Israeli attacks enjoys high popularity in Jordan and members are treated as heroes. It is believed that the language as modified conveyed the sense intended and greatly diminished possibility of giving offense. Copy of aide-mémoire pouched.
Two battalions of Arab Legion have been moved to border districts since Falama incident. They may be further reinforced. I am informed that Glubb feels however that Arab Legion cannot be used primarily as police force for preventing infiltration. Concentration of too great proportion Arab Legion near border interferes with necessary military training.
Re paragraph 4. Embassy is not aware that anyone in authority in Jordan has assumed that US and UN are synonomous or that US should enforce armistice agreement. Prime Minister and others have indeed expressed opinion that is in fact so dependent upon the US that the US could exercise great influence upon Israeli foreign policy when US foreign policy would seem to demand such action.