408. Editorial Note
At 11:30 a.m. on August 29, a bomb exploded in the Prime Minister’s office in Amman. The explosion killed Prime Minister Majali and two Foreign Ministry officials. A second explosion followed several minutes later in another part of the building, but King Hussein and others hurrying to the scene escaped injury. (Telegram 250 from Amman, August 29; Department of State, Central Files, 785.13/8–2960) Newly-appointed Chargé Eric Kocher called on Hussein on the afternoon of August 29 to express official condolences and was informed by the King that available evidence indicated that the bombs had been planted by two custodial employees who had disappeared into Syria [Page 735] earlier in the day. Kocher noted that the UAR Ambassador and Counselor had also left Jordan several days previously, leaving a Third Secretary as Charge. The King said that proof of Syrian complicity in the matter would awaken the world to the fact that amicable relations between Jordan and the “dictatorial UAR” were impossible. (Telegram 255 from Amman, August 29; ibid.)
King Hussein immediately appointed a new cabinet headed by Prime Minister Bahjat Talhouni. This cabinet, which retained most members of the Majali cabinet, was sworn in on the evening of August 29. (Telegram 261 from Amman, August 30; ibid., 785.13/8–3060) The Embassy concluded that there would be no change in Jordan’s overall foreign policy under the new government, but noted that, owing to Hussein’s conviction that the UAR had played a part in the assassination, “peace between Jordan and President Nasser is farther away than ever and propaganda warfare between the two, seldom at a low pitch, will probably rise to new heights.” (Telegram 264 from Amman, August 30; ibid.; included in the microfiche supplement)