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

8. Telegram From the Embassy in Jordan to the Department of State ¹

Amman , December 18, 1955—1 p.m.

283. Disturbances now widespread throughout Jordan,² road communications between East and West Bank halted by violent demonstrations in Jericho where cars being stoned and halted. Unconfirmed reports of casualties in various West Bank communities and of damage to property and cars.

Amman heavily patrolled by Legion. Groups students and demonstrators throwing stones at cars and pedestrians. Passage through center of town dangerous and traffic from Jebel to Jebel [sic] almost halted. Sporadic shooting can be heard but no information on casualties available. Legion instructed shoot below knees at demonstrators but patience may be exhausted as result stonings of Legionnaires themselves.

Students in local schools joining in melee and in state considerable excitement. Slogans being shouted against Glubb, King, Majali, Majali’s wife, and “traders in hashish”.

Americans and British warned keep off streets and no Americans known to be in danger. Car of military attaché stoned and three windows broken. No casualties.

Majali apparently determined make strenuous efforts remain in saddle and bring situation under control.³

Mallory

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 785.00/12–1855. Confidential; Niact. Repeated to Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Jerusalem, London, and Tel Aviv; passed to the Department of the Army.
2. On December 19, Barbour reported from London that Glubb had assured the Foreign Office that the situation in Jordan was not out of control and was not likely to become so. According to Barbour, the Foreign Office believed that the current disturbances were not a result of “any basic antipathy” to the Baghdad Pact but were fomented and financed by a combination of “left-wing elements, Egyptians and Saudis.” (Telegram 2525 from London; Ibid., 780.5/12–1955)
3. On December 19, Hussein dissolved the Jordanian Parliament. The al-Majali government was asked to resign and was replaced on December 21 by a caretaker government headed by Ibrahim Hashim, President of the Senate and former Prime Minister. Elections for a new Parliament were to be held within 4 months.