74. Editorial Note
On April 25, the Khalidi cabinet resigned and a new cabinet was formed with Ibrahim Hashim as Prime Minister. On the same day, King Hussein placed Jordan under martial law and declared a curfew in several urban areas.
President Eisenhower and Secretary of State Dulles discussed the situation in a telephone conversation at 8:59 a.m. on April 25. A memorandum of the conversation prepared by Phyllis D. Bernau reads in part:
“The Sec said the situation seems to be still in hand in Jordan and moving approximately as forecast, etc. Any more support from us would be embarrassing. The Pres said in that case reconsider moving the fleet? The Sec said that is done. The Sec said Snyder called at 7:30 and said it was moving and the news was out. The Pres mentioned going to Libya and Greece without going further. The Sec does not think it will do any harm and the Pres agreed. The Pres said anything he needs in the way of encouragement—temporary pact—we can give him—a little training mission and weapons. The Sec said we can do this but do not want to do anything he does not ask for. The Pres referred to wording in the res. The Sec said he thinks he knows he has our support. They praised him and the Pres sort of mentioned inviting him over.” (Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, White House Telephone Conversations)
An account of the conversation prepared in the Office of the President in Augusta, Georgia, reads in part: “The President said that the young King was certainly showing spunk and he admired him for it. He said ‘let’s invite him over one of these days’ when situation is less tense.” (Ibid., Whitman File, DDE Diaries)