398. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, March 26, 19591
SUBJECT
- Concluding Discussions on Current Situation in the Near East
PARTICIPANTS
- Jordanian Participants
- Prime Minister Samir el-Rifa’i
- H.E. Sam’an Daoud, Min. of Finance & Min. of National Economy
- H.E. Akef el-Fayiz, Min. of Agriculture
- H.E. Anastas Hanania, V.P., Jordan Development Board
- American Participants
- The Acting Secretary (at 11:30 a.m.)
- Hon. Robert Murphy
- Hon. William M. Rountree
- Hon. Leonard J. Saccio, ICA
- Hon. Sheldon T. Mills
- Mr. Donald D. Kennedy
- Admiral Grantham, OSD/ISA
In response to a request by Mr. Murphy for his views on the meaning of the term “Arab Nationalism” and the significance which the US should attach to the concept, Prime Minister Rifa’i noted that King Hussein would be discussing the Jordanian interpretation of “Arab Nationalism” in the speech which he was scheduled to give at the National Press Club luncheon the same day. The Prime Minister went on to say that the term “Arab Nationalism” was subject to a number of interpretations by different Arab nations and individuals. He asserted that in recent years this “attractive term” had been abused to some extent by ambitious leaders who sought to use it as a means of influencing the Arab peoples for selfish political ends. He said that some interpret “Arab Nationalism” as implying the union of the whole Arab World under one leader and the imposition of a certain type of government over the area. Others think that in view of the very different characteristics of the different Arab peoples, “Arab Nationalism” should more properly be interpreted as implying the creation of a loosely grouped community of Arab states, perhaps somewhat akin to the British Commonwealth of Nations. He concluded that the essential idea inherent in “Arab Nationalism” is the idea of unity.
Mr. Murphy commented that the United States is interested in doing what it can to alleviate tension in the Near East and bring about cooperation among the countries in the area. He wondered whether the US should be doing things in the political sense which it is not already doing.
Prime Minister Rifa’i replied that although it was not up to Jordan to advise the US on its policy, he was very flattered that his opinion should be asked and would suggest a few things for the US to consider. He felt that the rivalry between individual leaders in the Arab World was a principal cause of present difficulties in the area but he believed it was only a question of time before things returned to a more normal state of affairs. Matters must be left for the Arabs themselves to sort out. The role of the US as the leader of the Free World, in his view, should be to strengthen friendly elements in the area. If the US was persuaded that certain leaders were exploiting the high interests of the Arab nation, it should refrain from extending the hand of support to these leaders.
In response to Mr. Murphy’s question as to what importance he attached to the current meeting of Presidents Chehab of Lebanon and Nasser of the UAR, the Prime Minister replied that he did not attach great importance to this meeting. He felt that Lebanon’s principal motivation in seeking to smooth its relations with the UAR was economic, since Lebanon is heavily dependent on income from transit trade through the Port of Beirut, from tourism and from exports of apples and citrus fruits. The country was extremely vulnerable to UAR, and particularly Syrian, economic pressure.
[Page 706]Mr. Rountree commented that in our view the present situation in the Near East gives more hope of improvement than at any time in the recent past. It was our feeling that the overall interest of the people of the area and the Free World as a whole might best be served if every possible effort were made by Jordan as well as Lebanon to bring about an improvement in relations with the UAR. We were not suggesting humiliating concessions, but felt that, particularly in view of the Iraqi situation and the Communist threat, now is the best time to try to improve relations among the Arab States.
Prime Minister Rifa’i responded that he did not wish to give the impression that the Jordanians would not be the happiest of persons to see good relations established among the Arab states. He said that, despite the bitter and extremely personal attacks in the past against King Hussein and his own person, Jordan was ready to forget the past and open a new page in its relations with the UAR. He observed, however, that despite the young King’s nobility in disregarding the unjust attacks upon him, there were two matters which His Majesty could not easily forget. The Prime Minister wished for some gesture from the UAR to help him in his advocacy of improved relations between the two countries. The two matters which still rancored were: 1) the attack by Syrian fighter planes on His Majesty’s aircraft last fall and 2) activities against the present government of Jordan by former Jordanian nationals resident in the UAR. With regard to the first, the Jordan government felt that someone should come from Cairo to express official regret over the unwarranted attack upon His Majesty’s person. With regard to the political émigrés in the UAR, they had all been sentenced in Jordan courts and deprived of Jordanian nationality. The UAR should either surrender these people under the terms of the extradition treaty in force between the two countries or should at least force them to cease all political activity against Jordan. Unless these minimum gestures were made, he did not see how an improvement in relations could be brought about. The Jordanians, and particularly the young King, could not be expected to go humbly to hail Nasser as the Lord of the Arab World.
The Acting Secretary, who joined the meeting toward its close, closed the session with an expression of the real satisfaction with which the visit of His Majesty and his counselors had been received. He asked that Mr. Rifa’i convey to the King how much we had been honored and pleased by his presence among us and our hope that he felt the genuine warmth of his welcome.
The Prime Minister responded by thanking the Acting Secretary for his kind words and apologized for His Majesty’s absence from the final meeting. He assured the Acting Secretary that His Majesty and all the members of his party had been overwhelmed by the warmth and generosity of the hospitality which had been extended to them.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786.00/3–2659. Drafted by Lakeland on March 30 and approved as accurate by Herter on April 15.↩