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

3992. Subject: Letter from President to King Hussein. Ref: London 10351.2

1. Embassy requested deliver following oral message from President to King Hussein:

2. QUOTE Your Majesty:

In response to your message, I want to assure you of our readiness to do what we can to keep this situation from deteriorating and I have asked Secretary Rogers to keep in close touch with your government. We have over the past few months tried to impress on all parties in the area the need for restraint. We realize that your government is making great efforts to contain the situation. In this connection, I have asked that the Israeli Government be informed that you have repeated your strict orders that no shelling be permitted across the Jordan River, whether by fedayeen or regular forces. As you know, the Israelis have reported and have expressed deep concern over shellings of their civilian settlements.

I appreciate your comment regarding the efforts we are making to achieve peace and justice for the Near East. We believe a stable peace would be in the interest of all concerned in the area.

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As the New Year begins, may I extend to you my personal best wishes as you endeavor to serve the cause of your people as well as that of world peace.

Sincerely yours,

Richard Nixon END QUOTE3

Rogers
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 797, Presidential Correspondence. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Drafted on December 30, 1969, by Thomas J. Scotes (NEA/ARN); cleared in NEA, NEA/ARN, NEA/IAI, and the White House; and approved by Richardson and Sisco. Repeated Priority to London.
  2. Telegram 10351 from London, December 29, 1969, transmitted a message from King Hussein to Nixon in which the King sought to draw the President’s attention “to the recent and currently deteriorating situation” in the Middle East. He attributed the deterioration to the “very high limit” that “Israel’s belligerency has reached,” citing air and artillery attacks against Jordanian cities, villages, and “other civilian targets,” which he described as the “one-sided war” that Israel was waging against his country. (Ibid., Box 614, Country Files, Middle East, Jordan, Vol. III)
  3. In telegram 145 from Amman, January 12, the Embassy reported Symmes’s delivery of Nixon’s message to Rifai and Hussein, who thanked the Ambassador but made no comments. (Ibid.)