120.280/10–2253: Telegram
No. 704
The Chargé in Jordan (Lynch) to the Department of State1
priority
190. Johnston mission arrived noon October 22. I accompanied Johnston in call on Prime Minister 4 p.m. primarily to pay respects and arrange future meeting for substantive discussion.
Prime Minister stated that in order facilitate Johnston’s work vis-á-vis Jordan Government he wished frankly to make position of Jordan, decided upon after consultations with King and Cabinet, perfectly clear. He then enumerated five points which Jordan Government would not under any circumstances discuss. These, if accepted, would have rendered Johnston visit utterly useless and included flat refusal to discuss any plan for use of Jordan waters other than Bunger scheme for Yarmuk.
Johnston then stated he wished with equal frankness to make position of President of United States perfectly clear and proceeded to point out that President would have to go “before Congress to obtain necessary money for any scheme and in order to obtain it scheme must be along economical lines. He, Johnston, came to Jordan with an open mind and he hoped Jordan Government on its part would receive him with open mind. It was hope of President to bring great benefits to area and Jordan would be principal beneficiary. After considerable discussion Prime Minister seemed to agree [Page 1382] that it would be mistake for members of his government not to permit Johnston to explain new plan and meeting tentatively arranged for October 24.
Johnston then explained US position re Jordan waters at some length. I believe Prime Minister very favorably impressed but he was obviously worried about reactions his Cabinet colleagues.
- Repeated to Baghdad, London, Paris, Cairo, Beirut, Damascus, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Jidda.↩