Office of the Historian

177. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan1

Washington,July 28, 1955—6:37 p.m.

36.Embtel 39.2 Request following message be conveyed Prime Minister from Johnston: “Am grateful for your thoughtful message and have given it thorough consideration. However, in view increasing evidence of opposition in some quarters based on apparent misunderstanding, consider it important make no further postponement. I have come to this conclusion most reluctantly and I trust you will appreciate mutual advantages discussions with you as soon as possible. Recognize difficulty posed by Syrian elections and do not intend go to Damascus until some days afterwards.”3

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 120.1580/7–2455. Confidential. Drafted by Troxel; cleared with Barnes,Ludlow,Wilkins, and Allen; and approved by Burdett, who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, and Tel Aviv, and pouched to Jidda, Baghdad, and London.↩
  2. Telegram 39 transmitted a Jordanian recommendation that Johnston postpone his trip to the area until after the Syrian elections and the installation of a new Cabinet in September. (Telegram 39 from Amman, July 24,ibid., 120.1580/7–2455)↩
  3. Geren reported on July 30 that he had conveyed Johnston’s message to the Prime Minister, who replied that Johnston was welcome and that he hoped the Syrian situation would be clarified by the time Johnston had spent several days in Amman. (Telegram 47 from Amman,ibid., 120.1580/7–3055)↩