293. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Gray) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Rountree)1
Dear Bill: This is to inform you that the Department of Defense concurs with Contingency Papers 1 through 7, inclusive, prepared pursuant to NSC Action 1593–b.2
While the implications of forays (or outright war) by Israel against Jordan are not dealt with in any of the Contingency Papers, I am sure you will agree that such actions could negate our efforts towards a peaceful solution to the Suez problem. These raids, which inherently carry the threat of all out Israel-Jordan hostilities, tend to unify the Arab and other Moslem States in their attitudes not only toward the Arab-Israeli dispute but also with regard to the Suez situation. I would therefore urge that in our representations to the Israeli authorities we point out to them the adverse effects their [Page 629] hostile actions could have upon our efforts to bring about a timely and peaceful settlement of the Suez problem. Sincerely yours,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 974.7301/10–356. Top Secret.↩
- See footnotes 8 and 9, Document 72, and Document 226.↩