179. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan1
46. Request following message be conveyed Government to which accredited from Eric Johnston:
“In recent days representatives of the Governments of Lebanon, Syria and Jordan have suggested that I postpone my visit until the latter part of September. They have pointed out that the new Government of Syria may not be established until some time during that month.
I appreciate the problems arising from the Syrian elections and want to accommodate the Arab Governments to the fullest possible extent. While I find that a postponement until the end of September is not possible, I am prepared to make one further postponement in view of these representations. I propose arriving in the area about August 24, visiting Amman, Beirut and perhaps Cairo for discussion of detail, then proceeding to Damascus about September 5 for [Page 335] similar discussions. If circumstances warrant, I will be pleased to follow these conversations by a meeting with the Foreign Ministers concerned at any place named by them.”
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 120.1580/8–255. Official Use Only. Drafted by Troxel; cleared with Barnes,Bergus, and Boardman; and approved by Wilkins, who signed for Dulles. Also sent to Beirut, Damascus, and Cairo. Repeated to Tel Aviv, Jidda, and Baghdad, and pouched to London, Paris, and Jerusalem.↩