Office of the Historian

145. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Syria1

Washington, March 1, 1956—6:01 p.m.

660. Embtel 784.2 Dept has not had opportunity recently discuss Banat Ya’qub with Ben Gurion and not in position evaluate or give assurances re his statement. General Burns has been exploring this question with Israel and Syria during past few days. Ghazzi may wish question him on matter.

Main present US endeavor should be directed at securing favorable Arab response démarche Deptel 637 and 638.3 For this purpose we believe pressure should be maintained on Syrians.

You may also wish observe to Ghazzi that final solution Banat Ya’qub question must eventually be found. Israel unlikely postpone development of the Jordan indefinitely. Unless Israel sees some possibility Arab agreement, Israel will be able present strong case in UN and to world at large to continue development water resources of Jordan.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.85322/2–2456. Secret. Drafted by Wilkins, cleared with Ludlow, and approved by Allen who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Cairo, Tel Aviv, Amman, Beirut, and to Baghdad, London, Ankara, Jidda, and Paris by pouch.↩
  2. Document 125.↩
  3. Printed as telegrams 1999 and 2000, Documents 119 and 120.↩