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

611.84A/2–2554: Telegram

No. 772
The Ambassador in Jordan (Mallory) to the Department of State¹

secret
priority

Amman, February 25, 1954—4 p.m.

344. King Hussein today at audience his request inquired re reports considerable new sum money being given Israel by US. I was unable furnish information other than this is budget hearing time in US. He mentioned figure $80 million (Foreign Minister had earlier mentioned 39 million).

At conclusion audience King made a calm but firm statement of sincere preoccupation over events and possibilities among Arabs. He highlighted tensions with references to events Egypt and reported coup Syria today. Briefly said activity Vishinsky, Russian help to Arabs on three occasions this year and repeated reports American financial aid to Israel were raising questions in peoples’ minds and making difficult the exclusion of communism.

He made no request nor suggested any threat but exhibited concern over reaction to US activities.

Request facts on funds which I may promptly convey.²

Mallory

1. Repeated to Beirut, Damascus, Tel Aviv, London, Baghdad, and Cairo.
2. The Department responded on Feb. 26 in telegram 350 to Amman (priority) by noting that grant-economic aid totaling $39,375,000 had been allocated to Israel for the first three quarters of fiscal year 1954. (For the Embassy’s information, the Department noted that present plans called for a fourth quarter allocation of $13,125,000.) Grant economic aid to Israel for fiscal year 1953 totalled $70,228,000. The trend of economic aid to Israel was expected to continue downward in future years. (611.84A/2–2554)