Office of the Historian

409. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan1

Washington, September 9, 1960—3:51 p.m.

302. UK Embassy has shown Dept Ambassador Johnston’s reports on latest talks with King which update info which Embassy has reported. You should see King soonest possible. Under instructions you should stress same line of reasoning as Ambassador Johnston against any intervention by Jordan outside of Jordan.

Your presentation should include following points:

1.
Our appraisal is that UAR’s overwhelming air superiority assures that Jordan would reap disaster should hostilities occur.
2.
Jordanian intervention likely have chain reaction in which UAR southern region air and perhaps land forces, as well as those of Israel could be expected to intervene. Aside from plunging Mideast into war, Jordan itself can only come out loser.
3.
If any Jordanian forces, land or air, should cross Jordanian border, Jordan in US and world opinion would be guilty of aggression. It would immediately lose widespread sympathy which it now has, and would prejudice most adversely any UN consideration.
4.
US has proven its friendship for Jordan. If Jordan should undertake any aggressive action, US cannot be expected to be of any assistance.
5.
US has admired statemanship King has displayed until now. We believe King has shown wisdom in seeking an end to activities such as led to Majali’s assassination through Arab League and United Nations. We convinced this course not only wisest statemanship but offers best prospects for maintaining independence and territorial integrity of HKJ.

Parallel approaches should be made to Prime Minister and Foreign Minister emphasizing points above.2 Arma should seek means make same presentation to Habes Majali or highest Jordanian officer available. Advise British Ambassador and Spinelli of Department’s views as set forth above and actions you are taking.

Herter
  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, White House Office Files, Project “Clean Up”, Jordan. Confidential; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Mills and Meyer, cleared in BNA by James D. Moffett, in UN by Stephen Palmer, in NEA by Jones, and by Herter. Repeated to London, Cairo, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Damascus, Jerusalem, and USUN.↩
  2. Assistant Secretary G. Lewis Jones and Ambassador Mills, who was in Washington on home leave, called in the Jordanian Ambassador, Dr. Yusaf Haikal, on September 9 and expressed parallel concern about military preparations in Jordan. (Department of State, Central Files, 785.54/9–960; included in the microfiche supplement)↩