378. Memorandum of Discussion at the 301st Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, October 26, 1956, 9 a.m.1
[Here follows a paragraph listing the participants at the meeting.]
Significant World Developments Affecting U.S. Security
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Secretary Dulles then adverted to the situation in Jordan, which he described as “very worrisome”. There was grave danger that Jordan would presently disintegrate. If this happened, the result might be a war between the Israelis and the Arabs, not to mention wars between the Arab states themselves, notably Iraq and Egypt. Mr. Allen Dulles predicted that a coup was likely to take place in Syria. Admiral Radford commented that if King Hussein had really been assassinated,2 there was very little doubt that the Iraqis would move into Jordan as quickly as possible. Moreover, the British may well have to move in additional forces in order to maintain their hold on their bases in Jordan. Finally, the Israelis will certainly wish to move to secure the west bank of the Jordan River. All in all, commented the President, we are going to have a donnybrook in this area.
Mr. Allen Dulles then expressed the hope that before this meeting ended he would have confirmation as to whether or not King Hussein had actually been assassinated. (At the end of the meeting Mr. Dulles stated that the rumors that the King had been murdered were without foundation.)
Dr. Flemming said it was his understanding that the British and French were still thinking of resorting to force in certain circumstances in order to solve the Suez Canal crisis. Secretary Dulles commented that they were indeed. Dr. Flemming then stated that if this were true, and in view of other developments in the Middle East, the Western powers may well lose use of the Suez Canal for a certain period of time.
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- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Prepared by Gleason on October 26. The time of the meeting is from the record of the President’s Daily Appointments. (Ibid.)↩
- Allen Dulles began his briefing by mentioning, among other matters, that “rumors [were] flying around that the King of Jordan had been assassinated”.↩