684A.86/4–2453
No. 616
The Acting Secretary
of State to the Israeli Ambassador (Eban)
Dear Mr. Ambassador: Thank you for your letter of April 24 enclosing a copy of a memorandum entitled “Notes on Border Incidents Along the Israel Frontier”,1 which was the subject of your visit with Mr. Byroade April 22.
I have delayed replying pending the determination of responsibility for the April 22–24 incidents. The receipt of General Riley’s [Page 1227] report,2 just released by the United Nations, indicates that it has not been possible to fix the responsibility.
It may be of interest for you to know, and thereby see the extent of the problem, that at approximately the same time you were calling on Mr. Byroade, Jordan officials in Amman were protesting Israel’s attacks and requesting that we (as a Tripartite Declaration signatory) use our influence to keep peace and order along the Jordan-Israel frontier.
I believe that my remarks to you of last February counseling your Government to refrain from retaliatory action by Israel forces against neighboring states, are still good. Further steps toward maintaining border peace could include restoration of the local commanders agreement, as suggested by General Riley and accepted by the Jordan Government, and by high level discussions on the whole border problem as advocated by General Riley and accepted by the Israel Government. I am confident your Government will cooperate fully in making a success of any discussions that may be arranged and that your Government will continue to make full use of, and cooperate with, United Nations organizations established to investigate violations of the armistice agreements.
Please convey my warm greetings to your Prime Minister.
Sincerely yours,
- Document 596.↩
- U.N. doc. S/3007.↩