Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXIV, Middle East Region and Arabian Peninsula, 1969–1972; Jordan, September 1970

259. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Iran¹

Washington, September 17, 1970, 1500Z.

152503. For Ambassador MacArthur.

1. You should seek appointment with Shah as soon as possible to request his assessment of the situation in Jordan.

2. You should make clear that knowing his interest in survival Hussein’s regime we particularly interested in his assessment. Shah’s judgment on how far Iraq may be prepared to intervene to aid fedayeen would be of particular interest.²

Rogers

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 23–9 JORDAN. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Davies, cleared in substance by Haig, and approved by Eliot. It was repeated to Amman and Tel Aviv.
2. Telegram 4059 from Tehran, September 18, 1345Z, reported that the Shah stated that King Hussein had to act against the fedayeen or risk a de facto Palestinian state within Jordan. He also posited that Nasser’s position would play a crucial role in the denouement of the Jordanian situation. The Shah concluded by speculating on various ways to help Hussein as well as possible outcomes to the crisis. (Ibid.)