141. Telegram From the Embassy in Jordan to the Department of State1
436. From Talbot. We have just seen King Hussein for two and a quarter hours. He had Khammash with him. Ambassador, Solbert and Bunte accompanied me. Barnes and I are to meet King alone for second session at luncheon Monday,2 after Khammash, Solbert and Bunte have spent morning on details of USG proposal.
King listened intently my 45 minute presentation based on talking paper as modified by Deptel 437.3 He then expressed warm appreciation for amount and seriousness of attention given Jordan’s problems at highest levels USG. He hoped I would report views he was about to express so USG leaders could further consider his position. Otherwise “we may be in for some very grim times indeed.” King repeated many points we have heard before, including statement that whether Soviet equipment appears in Jordan now depends on our decisions rather than on him. He expressed disappointment at ground package as we presented it. Prompted by Khammash he said we appeared to be reopening understandings that he had thought long since achieved on ground equipment sales. King and Khammash both reacted visibly when told M48A3’s not available for sale. They did not, however, argue tank question this evening. King later said this request had been intended to balance the tanks being provided by Germany to Israel and converted to 105 mm guns. So far as we could tell Khammash’s main difficulty with ground force proposal, apart from tanks, was five-year delivery time. He appears still to want entire tranche within next year or so.
On non-availability of US supersonic aircraft, King contented himself with quiet assertion that if Western European aircraft could have done the job he would not have troubled USG with request for American aircraft. Khammash stated that Mirage failed to meet requirements on both quality and price. King observed gloomily that one at least of [Page 316] great dangers he foresees ahead might have been avoided had we been able to provide US aircraft. We inferred he was referring to costs I had enumerated that would ensue if Jordanians took Soviet aircraft.
Other comments by King related to general situation in area, Jordan’s exposed position, efforts of Arabs to act responsibly rather than discordantly and emotionally as so often in the past, need to build up Arab defensive forces to stabilize Arab-Israel situation since “our friends” apparently unable help bring solution and apprehension of great dangers likely in months ahead.
Comment: Session was clearly one in which both sides laid out positions, with the Jordanian response being quite formal, contained and in somewhat general terms. We may hear more of theme that Israel getting better tanks than US willing to sell Jordan. At end of session we were shown newspaper cartoon displaying large Uncle Sam holding Germany who in turn holding an Israeli figure pointing a gun at a small Arab. Further sessions on Monday may reveal other specifics of Jordan position, and should give us chance to press detailed argumentation of our position. I believe decision on Presidential letter should await this next round.
Detailed report of conversation will follow.4
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 12–5 JORDAN. Secret; Immediate; Exclusive Distribution. Repeated to Tel Aviv. Passed to the White House. The retyped text of the telegram was sent to the President on February 8 with a covering memorandum from Komer, noting that the talk with Hussein “didn’t go as badly as State feared, though this may be Arab courtesy.” (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Jordan, Vol. I)↩
- February 8. Telegram 443 from Amman, February 8, reported that Talbot’s luncheon conversation with the King ranged over a variety of Near Eastern issues. No decisions were reached in their discussion of the arms package. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 12–5 JORDAN)↩
- Telegram 808 to Beirut (Document 139) was sent to Amman as telegram 437.↩
- Telegram 437 from Amman, February 8, reported an extended discussion with King Hussein the previous evening concerning the U.S. arms proposals. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 12–5 JORDAN)↩