277. Editorial Note
On September 27, Ambassador Gallman reported to the Department of State information received from Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Said that, in the context of increasing border clashes with Israel, King Hussein had requested military assistance from the Iraqi Government, including the deployment of at least one Iraqi division into Jordan. Said told Gallman that Iraq was not in a position to supply [Page 600] Jordan with arms and for the present had no intention of dispatching an Iraqi division into Jordan. He added, however, that the Iraqi Government was going to build up supplies within Jordan at Mafraq and would have to send a force of company or perhaps battalion strength to guard these supplies. According to Said, the force would be under orders not to become involved in border skirmishes. The Prime Minister then asked for assurances that the United States military assistance to Iraq would not be suspended, if the dispatching of an Iraqi force in strength into Jordan became necessary later in the defense of Jordan against aggression and in keeping with Iraq’s treaty obligations to Jordan. “Iraq’s aim,” Said affirmed, “is to strengthen Jordan against Communism.” Furthermore, Said requested the United States to explain to the Israeli Government that the sending of a small force to Mafraq was not an act of aggression but only a defensive move. He also asked whether the United States could supply through him a few thousand rifles and a few machine guns and army blankets for Jordan. (Telegram 513 from Baghdad, September 27; Department of State, Central Files, 684A.85/9–2756)
In response, the Department of State, in telegram 462, September 27, instructed Gallman to convey to Said the view that Iraqi agreement to the Jordanian request would be “ill-advised at this juncture.” For text, see volume XIII, pages 52–53.