Office of the Historian

72. Telegram From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Unified and Specified Commanders1

Washington, April 24, 1957—7:10 p.m.

JCS 921766. Limit distribution of this message to your major commanders and senior staff officers.

[Page 108]

With the reopening of the Suez Canal and the anticipated early registration with the United Nations of the Egyptian memorandum covering the operations of the Canal, the focus of tension in the Middle East has shifted to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. King Hussein, supported in large part by the tribal sheiks and the old Bedouin element in the Jordan Arab Army, is being subjected to a sharply increasing propaganda and subversive assault from leftist-nationalist elements among the Palestinian Arabs both inside and outside of the Army, strongly supported and guided by similarly oriented elements of the Syrian Government and by the Egyptian Government. The maintenance of a government in Jordan favorably disposed to the West now depends upon the life and continuing resolution of the King and upon the loyalty and effectiveness of an army subjected to divisive strains. The loss of Jordan to the leftist Egyptian-Syrian camp would be a setback to U.S. interests in the area. Whether the King continues to attempt to rule with a constitutional government or resorts to a military dictatorship, the struggle for power is unlikely to be expeditiously resolved.

Saudi troops in Jordan and Iraqi troops in Western Iraq are prepared to support Hussein upon his request. Syrian troops in Jordan are confined to barracks and their withdrawal may be under consideration. Inconclusive evidence of possible Israeli mobilization has been reported. Strong representations are being made to Israel to keep hands off. The death of Hussein or the calling in of Iraqi troops could result in clashes among opposing forces and within the Jordan Army.

Instructions have been issued to sail Sixth Fleet to Eastern Mediterranean and the Sixth Fleet Amphibious Task Group to Beirut. Two DDs are remaining in Massawa–Aden area. In addition JCS are considering possible movements of certain ground and air units from Europe to staging bases in Turkey or Lebanon.

  1. Source: National Archives and Records Service, JCS Records, CCS 381 EMMEA (11–19–47) SSC.57. Secret; Noforn; Operational Immediate. Sent to Commander in Chief, Alaska, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; Commander in Chief, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia; Commander in Chief, Caribbean, Quarry Heights, Canal Zone; Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command, Paris, France; Commander in Chief, Far East, Tokyo, Japan; Commander in Chief, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii; Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, London, England; and Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska.↩