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

684A.85/8–1754: Telegram

No. 864
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Jordan¹

secret

Washington, August 18, 1954—7:24 p.m.

61. In light Dayan’s willingness urge Israel participation in meeting HKJ and Israel commanders Jerusalem sector late August (Deptel 67 to Tel Aviv² and Tel Aviv 173 to Dept³) and in view statement last para Jerusalem’s 45 to Dept.,⁴ request Amman’s and Tel Aviv’s views as to practicability their approaching governments soonest to urge such meeting. Should this approach be made without awaiting definitive result efforts arrange meeting Gaza? Such an approach would be along lines final para Deptel 205 to Cairo⁵ with emphasis on limited nature agenda.

Dulles

1. Sent also priority to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Cairo; sent by pouch to Beirut, London, and Damascus.
2. Printed as telegram 38 to Amman, Document 853.
3. In telegram 173 from Tel Aviv, Aug. 17, Russell reported that he had raised with Eytan the possibility of reactivating, improving, and extending the local commanders’ meetings. Eytan said he would prefer to postpone discussion until Dayan returned from Washington later in the week. (684A.85/8–1754)
4. In the last paragraph of telegram 45 from Jerusalem, Aug. 16, Cole reported that he had sounded out the senior Arab Legion officer in the Jerusalem area about local commanders’ meetings. The officer’s opinion was that such meetings were useful and could presumably be renewed whenever the Israelis signified a desire to do so. (684A.85/8–1654)
5. Printed as telegram 38 to Amman, Document 853.