Office of the Historian

113. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan0

Washington, September 29, 1961, 9:45 p.m.

120. At time Deptel 116 to Amman1 was sent situation in Syria unclear and Department believed that if Nasser hoped to employ military force successfully against rebels he would have to move at once. Nasser did order invasion and pulled back either as result of change of heart or inability of advance force gain foothold. Having failed in attempted use of force Nasser now appears to have accepted separation of Syria and danger of military action may have passed. Instructions to Amman in reftel therefore superseded by events. What course Nasser will follow in effort recover prestige not yet evident. We hope that his non-aligned colleagues, without suggestions from us, will persuade him in direction of restraint. Department desires pursue normal relationships with him and with his government. We do not propose to offer him counsel. Should new regime in Syria request our recognition and should it meet tests for recognition we would wish accede to request within reasonable time. However we desire avoid hasty action that would be held against us in Cairo. Syrian regime may ease our problem by not seeking early recognition.

Government as formed seems middle of road but not expected seek close ties either with West or Soviet bloc. We shall have to feel our way with both Nasser and Syria and shall be interested in significant expressions of attitudes whether printed or oral in all Arab countries.

We have recommended to Secretary that in talking with Lebanese Foreign Minister Takla in New York he stated that USG has regretfully decided postpone fleet visit to Beirut. Our position based on our belief that visit would be misunderstood in both Cairo and Damascus.2 Ambassador Kamel has informed Department of his concern in these terms. Beirut will be advised of Secretary’s decision.

Bowles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 786B.00/9–2961. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Strong, cleared by Collopy (S/S), and approved by Talbot who initialed for Bowles. Repeated to Ankara, Tel Aviv, London, Cairo, Beirut, Baghdad, Jidda, Paris, Rome, Damascus, Jerusalem,USUN for the Mission and the Secretary, Athens, Rabat, Tripoli, Khartoum, Tunis, Algiers, Tangier, Casablanca, Bonn, Moscow, Karachi, and New Delhi.↩
  2. Document 111.↩
  3. Additional documentation on the decision to cancel the Sixth Fleet’s visit to Beirut is in Department of State, NEA/NE Files: Lot 63 D 33, Syrian Crisis. A memorandum of telephone conversation between Secretary Rusk in New York and Meyer in Washington, September 29 at 7:51 p.m., is ibid., Rusk Files: Lot 72 D 192, Telephone Conversations.↩