388. Message From President Eisenhower to Prime Minister Ben Gurion1
Dear Mr. Prime Minister: I received your message dated October 20. I have taken very careful note of the reasons you advance against the movement of Iraqi troops into Jordan which you had initially thought would be a constructive step. I am not sure that I agree with your present position but in any event and so far as I am informed there has been no entry of Iraqi troops into Jordan. I hope that you look upon the suspense of that movement as a contribution to peace in the area. I must frankly express my concern at reports of heavy mobilization on your side, a move which I fear will only increase the tension which you indicate you would like to see reduced.
These are days of great strain. Only statesmanship of a high order and self-restraint by all parties can assure that the tensions in the Middle East can be controlled and prevented from becoming a cause for a breach of the peace in that area and in others affected by the ramifications of those tensions.
I remain confident that only a peaceful and moderate approach will genuinely improve the situation and I renew the plea which was communicated to you through Secretary Dulles that there be no forcible initiative on the part of your Government which would endanger the peace and the growing friendship between our two countries.
Sincerely,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/10–2756. Secret; Limited Distribution. Transmitted to Tel Aviv in Niact telegram 355, October 27, 12:25 p.m., with the instruction: “Please deliver urgently following message from President to Ben Gurion”. Telegram 355, which is the source text, was drafted by Dulles and Rountree, approved in draft by Eisenhower and Dulles, and approved by Rountree who initialed for Dulles.↩
- Telegram 355 bears this typed signature.↩