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

684A.85/6–2054: Telegram

No. 837
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Israel¹

confidential

Washington, June 22, 1954—7:37 p.m.

873. In its discretion Embassy may reply as follows to Sharett request that USG endeavor influence HKJ cease “series of reckless and provocative firings by Jordan border patrols” (Jerusalem tel 190):²

1. Recent decisions of MAC, body in whose impartiality we have full confidence, do not support Sharett’s charges against HKJ. We do not feel able to make approach to Jordan requested by Sharett when Israel refuses to participate in work of MAC, organization specifically constituted to cope with border problems and when recent activities of Israel’s armed forces resemble to unfortunate extent those for which Israel censured by SC on November 24.

2. Treatment accorded UN observers investigating Wadi Fukin clash can only raise questions re Israel’s intentions and responsibility for incident. We unable to perceive justification for what appears to be deliberate effort by Israel discredit UNTSO personnel and machinery. Stability and security on border depends primarily on this organization and SC resolution of November 24 specifically called on Israel and Jordan to “cooperate fully with chief of staff of TSO”.

3. Measures listed in aide-mémoire of June 20 [19] designed accomplish improvement in border situation which Sharett desires. We hope that steps indicated together with return of Israel to Israel–Jordan MAC and genuine effort to cooperate by all concerned will succeed in reversing present deplorable trend.³

Dulles

1. Repeated to Amman and Jerusalem; sent by pouch to London and New York.
2. Telegram 190 from the Consulate General at Jerusalem, June 20, contained a further report by Chargé Russell on his meeting that morning with Sharett at which he delivered the aide-mémoire on border measures (Supra). The Prime Minister stated that the killing of two Israeli patrol guards the morning before and the fatal wounding of a third was only the culmination of a series of reckless and provocative firings by Jordanian border patrols upon Israeli patrols during the past few weeks. The Prime Minister asked that the United States exert its influence with the Jordanian Government to bring about their cessation. (684A.85/6–2054)
3. Telegram 1335 from Tel Aviv, June 25, 8 p.m., reported that the substance of the Department’s telegram 873 had been transmitted orally to the Foreign Ministry for Sharett, with the exception of the parallel between Qibya and recent incidents, a thesis the Embassy believed was debatable. (684A.85/6–2554)