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

684A.85/8–2553: Telegram

No. 651
The Chargé in Jordan (Lynch) to the Department of State¹

secret

Amman, August 25, 1953—11 a.m.

91. Deptel 81.² Called on Prime Minister August 24 and informed him great concern my government over unsettled border situation and expressed hope Jordan’s efforts prevent infiltration would be redoubled. As Jordan has apparently been making extraordinary effort prevent infiltration for some time past and as incidents have been comparatively few during past several weeks, I particularly emphasized unsatisfactory situation in Qatanneh area where frontier and no-mans-land have never been clearly demarcated and where Arabs, owing police inability or unwillingness take strong action, have been cultivating their fields in no-mansland and even in what is almost certainly Israeli territory. Prime Minister insisted that Jordan was making all out effort prevent infiltration but admitted situation Qatanneh area extremely difficult owing uncertainty as to exact border.

I also informed Prime Minister US making representations to Israel regarding recent IDF attacks on Wadi Fukin and two other border villages, attacks which were condemned at August 12 MAC meeting. Prime Minister expressed gratification and asked me whether he was at liberty to mention these representations at same time as he publicly announced that US had made representations to his government on border situation. He said morale of people of Jordan required that they understand that they were being treated fairly by US and that it was not Jordan alone which was being singled out for American reprobation. I told Prime Minister I had no instructions on this score but suggested it woud be unfortunate if he made such statement before US representations to Israel had actually been made and suggested he wait several days in order to learn what Israel made public. I do not know just what he will do.

I expressed concern of US Government over troop build-up on and near border which I suggested increased possibility of flareups. Prime Minister emphasized view that recent border reinforcement was necessary defense measure and direct result of Israeli military activity. He said orders to Arab Legion were specific and no possibility of misunderstanding existed.

Orders were: (1) Legion was on border for defense purposes only; (2) under no circumstances was Legion to leave Jordan territory; (3) under no circumstances was Legion to undertake reprisal. He felt, therefore, there was little likelihood that border reinforcement would lead to border flare-up.

I expressed my appreciation of what appeared to me to be sincere effort of Jordan Government to preserve peace and told Prime Minister I would convey his statement to my government.³

Lynch

1. Repeated to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Paris, London, Beirut, Baghdad, Cairo, Jidda, and Damascus.
2. Printed as telegram 154 to Tel Aviv, supra.
3. The Department replied on Aug. 28 by suggesting that the Chargé might at an appropriate opportunity wish to express to the Jordanian Prime Minister the appreciation of the U.S. Government for his statement of clarification regarding the Legion’s orders, and indicate the continuing concern of the United States over the situation created by military build-ups on both sides of the border. The Department agreed with Lynch’s suggestion that the Prime Minister was the best means of handling the publicity problem. (684A.85/8–2553)