684A.85/9–454: Telegram
No. 890
The Acting Secretary
of State to the Embassy in
Israel1
priority
143. Acting Asst Secy NEA advised Israel Chargé fourth as follows:
Begin summary: Dept views with great concern reports organized and armed force Israel military numbering several hundred conducted operations Jordan territory area villages Beit Sira, Beit Liqya and Khirbet al Misbah early morning Sept 2.
It is realized infiltrators from Jordan continue constitute serious problem Israel, particularly to inhabitants agricultural settlements close to HKJ-Israel armistice line. At same time it must be said Israel’s apparent policy of organized and armed retaliation has not only already been condemned but it has also brought about heightened rather than reduced tensions along armistice line.
It is to interest US as well as peoples of area that there be reduction these tensions and, step-by-step move toward peace between Israel and her neighbors. Peace in NE must be painstakingly built through measures calculated diminish areas conflict and lessen hatreds. Armed retaliatory raids not such measures.
Dept strongly hopes Israel will abandon armed retaliation, and that both Israel and Jordan will cooperate wholeheartedly with appropriate UN organs in enforcement of General Armistice Agreement. End summary.
Dept does not intend release foregoing to press but question from press at Sept 7 conference re reason for Shiloah’s call will be answered if it arises along above lines. Tel Aviv may in its discretion make similar statement to IG. Amman and other addressees Arab states authorized informally advise Govts of action taken, if deemed useful.
- Sent also to Amman priority, Beirut, Baghdad, Cairo, Damascus, Jidda, London, and Paris.↩