Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1955, Volume XIV

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

Washington,August 20, 1955—7:52 p.m.

68. For Chief of Mission from Secretary. Re Russell letr on Alpha of July 22.²

After consideration of possible alternatives as to timing I plan to make on August 26 a public statement concerning the Arab-Israel issues and US willingness to help in working toward a settlement. The statement will be along the general lines of the draft text already sent to you. The final text, reflecting recommendations from the field, will be telegraphed to you separately.

Dept has worked closely with the British FonOff in working out principles and proposals contained in my statement and you should coordinate closely with your Brit colleague. We have agreed with British that UK reps should make first approaches in Iraq and Jordan, with follow-up by US rep. In other countries of area, order is reversed.

You should plan to call upon one or all of fol:PriMin,³FonMin or King⁴ on Wed August 24 as soon as possible after your Brit colleague has done so. Advise him I expect make a statement on some of issues pending between Israel and Arab states and on possibility of steps toward stability and econ progress in that area. Do not make appointment until receipt subsequent instruction that effect.⁵ You should inform him that this statement embodies considered views of this Govt reached after intensive study. We hope govt to which you are accredited, which has so much to gain from a solution of problems hampering progress and impeding national development of Near Eastern states, will give my statement closest study and constructive consideration. You should not, of course, give any indication of content of proposed statement other than above.⁶

FYI: Dept is informing French FonOff of proposed statement only in most general terms at this time but hopes for French endorsement of our proposals. In your discretion you may reveal substance your conversations with govt to your French colleague but only in most general terms. End FYI.

You will receive shortly a further instruction re points you should make in event govt raises certain questions with you fol my statement.

It is my hope that the statement will provide an opportunity for all of us to engage in a renewed effort to reduce tension and to assist in broad progress in the area.⁷

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/8–2055. Top Secret; Alpha; Limited Distribution. Drafted by Russell; approved by the Secretary and by Russell, who signed for Dulles.
2. Document 169.
3. Said al-Mufti was both Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.
4. Hussein ibn Talal.
5. The Department sent a confirmatory instruction to Amman the following day. (Telegram 69, August 21; Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/8–2155)
6. The Embassy in Amman reported on August 24 that the Chargé,Paul Geren, had carried out the Department’s instructions in calls on Mufti and King Hussein. Mufti’s response was noncommittal, and the King was willing to say only that Jordan would “do what it could”. The country’s reaction, the King said, was dependent upon the contents of the Secretary’s statement. (Telegram 85;ibid., 684A.86/8–2455)
7. The Department transmitted similar instructions on August 20 to Baghdad as telegram 120. (Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/8–2055)