169. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan1
68. View situation described Emptel 47,2 Department [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] Washington desire urgent cabled coordinated evaluation by Embassy [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] Amman of domestic security situation with particular reference to current military attitude toward regime and UAR and likelihood of successful coup. Evaluation should contain your recommendations as to steps US might appropriately take to help prevent deterioration regime’s position and promote confidence in relationship between regime and military.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 785.00/7–958. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Rockwell and approved by Berry. Repeated to Baghdad and London.↩
- In telegram 47 from Amman, July 9, Wright reported on a conversation with Rifai in which Rifai discussed problems of morale in the army occasioned by the “witch hunt” being conducted by several of the King’s advisers to arrest those officers suspected of conspiracy to overthrow the government. Rifai was concerned that at least one of these Royal advisers was working with the Syrian Minister of the Interior, Colonel Sarraj, to overthrow the Rifai government and assassinate King Hussein. On Rifai’s advice, Hussein had arrested the adviser, Colonel Radi Abdullah, and was considering Rifai’s suggestion that those officers arrested by Abdullah be released or brought quickly to trial in order to restore morale and support for the government within the army. (Ibid.; included in the microfiche supplement)↩