96. Editorial Note
On June 13, at the 326th meeting of the National Security Council, the President presiding, Allen Dulles in his review of significant world developments affecting United States security, raised the question of Jordan and the potential threats to King Hussein and King Saud. The memorandum of discussion includes the following exchange:
“The Director of Central Intelligence said he would first deal with developments in the Middle East. Of recent days, Nasser had lost a great deal of ground and standing in the Arab world. King Saud was still in Amman. King Hussein had all but broken diplomatic relations with Egypt following his expulsion of two Egyptian diplomats from Jordan…. Nevertheless, continued Mr. Dulles, we cannot but worry about Nasser’s possible reaction to these recent reverses. We believe that he is still plotting to do away with King Saud and King Hussein, and both are in genuine danger.
“Meanwhile, President Kuwatly of Syria has been visiting in Egypt. It is not clear what has transpired in the course of this visit. There are, however, indications of further Saudi rapprochement with Iraq. With regard to the recent resignation of the government of Nuri Said in Iraq, Mr. Dulles predicted that Nuri would probably be [Page 146] persuaded to resume the office of Prime Minister. There seemed no particular reason for his resignation except the desire for a rest.
“Secretary Dulles broke in to comment that in recent days Nasser had grown increasingly bitter, and that he was blaming the United States in general and Secretary Dulles in particular for everything that had gone wrong. This was illustrated by Nasser’s article in Look magazine. Nasser’s attitude seemed to Secretary Dulles to be rather ironical, in view of the direction of U.S. policy when Egypt was invaded last November; although, admittedly, the prime motivation of our actions last autumn was not the desire to cultivate the friendship of Nasser and of Egypt.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)