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

684A.85/10–1753: Telegram

No. 692
The Ambassador in Egypt (Caffery) to the Department of State¹

secret

Cairo, October 17, 1953—3 p.m.

466. Paris for Johnston. Minister Foreign Affairs assured me this morning re recent Israeli attacks on Jordan villages excitement is rising high in Arab world. Egypt is trying “to hold back” and “not stir up trouble” and even to avoid having these incidents brought before Security Council. In other words Egypt is trying to exert a calming influence. However, Egyptian Government is very much concerned about possibility that Israeli Government has “much bigger things in mind. Recent tendencies are not good”, e. g., (1) Jordan waters (2) Huleh swamps (3) El Auja (4) other recent attacks across the frontier including Gaza district.

He went on to say that during last Arab League Council meeting here Jordan Government emphasized fear of Israeli attacks against Jordan frontier villages. They asked for help. Only help other Arab countries gave was subsidy of half million dinars for economic subsidies to frontier villages. (In some villages inhabitants are “starving” because they cannot cultivate their ex-properties across the frontier.)

He indicated that whole Arab world is anxiously awaiting Washington reaction.

Caffery

1. Repeated to London, Paris, Jerusalem, Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad, Amman, Jidda, and Tel Aviv.