Office of the Historian

684A.85/4–2353: Telegram

No. 597
The Ambassador in Jordan (Green) to the Department of State1

confidential
NIACT
Amman, April 23, 1953—noon.

899. The unpleasantly familiar pattern of exaggeration and distortion by Israeli press of recent border incidents led the Hashimite Kingdom of the Jordan to fear that the culmination would be an attack by Israel (see Embtel 866, April 14 expressing apprehension over what was developing). The attack has now taken place. At 5 p.m. April 22 rifle fire was directed from several points in Jerusalem area against Arab Legion posts and any soldiers or civilians within sight. Firing lasted until 6 p.m., was renewed April 23 at dawn. Casualties reported by Arab Legion: Military, 4 killed, 3 wounded; civilians, 2 killed, 9 wounded.

It is assumed Consulate General Jerusalem will telegraph details.

Embassy in receipt of note dated April 23 from Minister Foreign Affairs in part as follows (translation):

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hashimite Kingdom of the Jordan presents its compliments to the American Embassy and has the honor to inform it that the Israeli Forces fired from various points in Jerusalem at soldiers of the Arab Legion, at Jordan Security Forces, and at civilians, beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 23 without provocation and without justification.—This action constitutes a flagrant breach of the Armistice Agreement and is considered a treacherous aggressive action.

“It was observed before the firing that a signal was given after which the civilian population in the Jewish zone disappeared. It is understood that the Jews carried out a rehearsal a few days ago when the same signal was given and civilian population of the Jewish zone disappeared from the front-line areas. This proves, very clearly, that the above-mentioned aggression was an organized and arranged military operation, the purpose and intention of which was to attack Jordan territory with flagrant treachery. This operation greatly resembles the Jewish aggressions against Falama and Rantis.

“As the United States of America is a party to the tripartite declaration, the Jordan Government appeals to it to take the necessary measures to guarantee the stopping of these treacherous aggressive actions which threaten and endanger peace and security in this part of the world etc.”

Green
  1. Repeated to Jerusalem, London, Paris, Baghdad, Tel Aviv, Cairo, Beirut, and Damascus.↩