Office of the Historian

75. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iraq1

Washington, April 25, 1957—11:04 a.m.

1962. You are requested at earliest possible moment to again review Jordanian situation with Nuri. You may inform him we have informed Israeli Government US purpose to support status quo in Jordan, emphasizing we know this to be also objective of Saudi Arabia and Iraq…. Israeli attitude reassuring.

You may further inform him … our fear Syrians might be tempted inject themselves overtly into situation particularly if substantial elements Jordanian army should become disaffected from King…

You may assure Nuri of continued US determination to support Hussein in every practicable way. You should emphasize importance we attach to open support of Hussein by Iraq and Saudi Arabia, including public expression of willingness by these nations to provide forces to assist Hussein should he request them.

[Page 111]

Meanwhile we continue to examine possibilities of financial and other assistance to Jordan. (Baghdad’s 17722)

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 785.00/4–2557. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Newsom and approved and signed by Dulles.↩

  2. On April 24, the Embassy in Baghdad reported a conversation with Nuri on April 23. Among other things, Nuri noted that Iraq did not have the “reserves” to assist King Hussein at the present time. Nuri “wished” that he might furnish Hussein with at least 200,000 pounds to be used to counteract Egyptian and Syrian “subversive activities.” (Telegram 1772; ibid., 120.1580/4–2457)

    On April 26, Gallman informed the Department that he had called on Nuri and conveyed to him the substance of telegram 1962. Nuri noted, in part, that he would immediately pass the information to King Faisal. The Prime Minister then added: “‘Please tell Mr. Dulles that what you have been doing and propose to do is all to the good, but up to now you have been working only on the tail and leaving the head intact. The head is Nasser and in the last analysis, it is Nasser who is the source of all the disturbances in the Middle East.’” (Telegram 1788 from Baghdad; ibid., 785.00/4–2657)

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