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

683.84A/9–953: Telegram

No. 659
The Ambassador in Syria (Moose) to the Department of State¹

secret
priority

Damascus, September 9, 1953—2 p.m.

82. Besides the danger of bloodshed if Israel is permitted to continue work on project for diversion of remainder of Jordan waters reported in Embtel 81, September 9,² Syrian resentment can hinder or defeat any or all of following projects advocated by US Government:

(1) Division of Demilitarized Zone as step toward eventual Syro–Israeli peaceful relationship (cf. Embassy despatch 116, August 21).³

(2) Jordan-Yarmuk development plan referred to in Deptel 73, September 4.⁴

(3) Any bilateral or multilateral defense arrangements implicit in prospective aid programs for Syria.

Moose

1. Repeated for information to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
2. Telegram 81 from Damascus, Sept. 9, reported on the Israeli diversion of the Jordan River at Banat Yaacov. (683.84A/9–953)
3. Not printed.
4. Printed as telegram 316 to Beirut, Document 656.