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

21. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Acting Secretary of State and the Jordanian Ambassador (Rifa’i), Department of State, Washington, March 6, 1956¹

Washington, March 6, 1956

SUBJECT

• Dismissal of General Glubb

Ambassador Rifa’i called on instructions from his Government to provide the following explanation regarding the recent dismissal of General Glubb.² The action was determined by King Hussein solely for internal administrative reasons and was taken only against General Glubb as a person. Recent statements and press reports have exaggerated and distorted the matter. Jordan desires to continue the friendliest relations with the United Kingdom and the United States, and intends to live up completely to its obligations under its treaty with the UK. The Jordan Government hopes that the United States will use its good offices with the United Kingdom to impress upon the British the facts given above and particularly the desire of Jordan that the good relations between the two countries not be disturbed.

Mr. Hoover expressed appreciation for the Ambassador’s comments and stressed the value the United States attaches to friendly relations with Jordan. He said the United States thinks the longstanding relations between Jordan and the United Kingdom have been of mutual benefit and have contributed to the internal stability and sovereign independence of Jordan. He added that the circumstances of General Glubb’s dismissal could not but cause a sharp reaction among the British public, as is evidenced by the concern expressed in the House of Commons. Consequently, the British Government is bound to consider carefully the effect of General Glubb’s dismissal on Anglo-Jordan relations. The Acting Secretary emphasized the hope of the United States that the changes in the Arab Legion do not presage any change in Jordan’s clearly demonstrated intentions to carry out faithfully the general armistice agreement.

The Ambassador assured Mr. Hoover that there would be no change in Jordan’s strict observance of the general armistice agreement.³

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 741.551/3–656. Confidential. Drafted by Burdett.

2. On March 6, in a memorandum to Hoover that briefed the Acting Secretary on his scheduled meeting with Rifai later that afternoon, Rountree noted:

   “We surmise that Mr. Rifai will seek to mirumize the dismissal of General Glubb and take the line that Jordan was acting within its sovereign rights. He might well state that the King’s action should not be interpreted as reflecting a desire to disrupt Jordan’s relations with and financial support from Britain. He will refer to the pressure to substitute Egyptian-Saudi Arabian-Syrian assistance for the British subsidy being brought on Jordan by Egypt, Syria, and Saudi Arabia whose Chiefs of State will be meeting shortly in Cairo.

   “He may request that the U.S. intervene with Great Britain and urge the British to continue financial support to Jordan and to acquiesce in arrangements whereby British military advice is given to an Arab Legion completely under Jordan command. If Jordan is unable to continue to count on British help, she will not be in a position to withstand internal and external pressures to accept the Egyptian-Saudi Arabian-Syrian offer or even to seek assistance from the Soviet bloc.” (Ibid., 611.85/3–656)

3. On March 8 the Department conveyed to the Embassy in Amman the substance of Hoover’s meeting with Rifai. (Telegram 478; Ibid., 641.85/3–856)