Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Near East: Jordan-Yemen, Volume XIII

102. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom¹

Washington, July 31, 1957—7:07 p.m.

942. Deptel 884 to London, 192 to Amman.² Following points will be made in conversation with UK Embassy August 1 and should be made same day to FonOff:³

1) US pleased receive information re UK decision on interest-free loan to Jordan.

2) US recalls that joint Anglo-American assessment Jordan situation towards end June agreed that preservation Jordan as independent pro-Western state of highest import Anglo-American policy and that Jordan non-viable and must have outside support to extent of minimum £15 million annually.

3) US has made heavy financial commitments to Jordan in recent months. US hopes that UK in spite of change in its position in Jordan will in light of its interest in strengthening pro-Western forces in Near East give earliest consideration to making available larger measure of assistance than now proposed. Continuation of economic assistance at levels of recent years prior to termination treaty would be most helpful. Postponement of annual Jordan debt repayment is among other assistance measures which might be considered. US realizes difficulties both political and economic involved for UK in connection such possible steps but believes US–UK objectives in Jordan so important as to warrant special efforts by both countries.

Herter

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 885.10/7–3157. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Rockwell and Shaw and approved by Berry who signed for Herter. Repeated to Amman and pouched to Baghdad, Jidda, Cairo, and Damascus.
2. On July 29, the Department in telegram 192 to Amman, repeated to London, informed the Embassy, among other things, that the United Kingdom agreed to give Jordan an interest free loan amounting to £1,130,000. (Ibid., 885.10/7–2957)
3. A memorandum of the conversation by Bergus is not printed. (Ibid., 885.10/ 8–157)