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

55737. Subject: Message for King Hussein.

1. Please deliver the following message from the President to King Hussein.2

2. Start text.

Your Majesty,

Our two governments have worked together on crucial matters for many years and I place great importance on our continued ability to work together in the cause of peace and regional stability. I know of your deep concern about progress toward resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and I want to share with you my objectives in my coming trip to Egypt and Israel.

I remain deeply committed to a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The only peace which can endure is a peace, involving all parties who have been affected by this conflict. Our present efforts to conclude a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel are in the context of our commitment to that larger objective.

We have reached a critical stage in the peace process. After the most recent round of discussions, I have decided that the time has now come for me to visit Egypt and Israel in response to invitations from

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President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin. History must not say of us that peace was not achieved because of failure of will or of serious effort. Peace is too important to us all—to you and to your people as well as to mine—for us to leave any stone unturned, no matter how difficult the obstacles. My trip is taken in that spirit and in the conviction that a treaty between Egypt and Israel is a necessary first step in the process of achieving peace between Israel and each of its neighbors.

I fully understand the major role that Jordan can play in enabling us to move quickly beyond this treaty, if it can be achieved, to negotiations on the issues of concern to you and to the Palestinians. I therefore want to keep you as fully informed as I can of the developments in the next few days, so you will be able to develop your policies in full knowledge of the facts.

Jordan and the United States have vital interests in common in preserving the national independence and integrity of each state in the Middle East and in resolving the causes of conflict which open the door to exploitation by outside powers. We will continue to work closely with you on each of these fronts. Sincerely, Jimmy Carter. End text.

3. Guidance for your talk with the King when you present letter being sent septel.3

Vance
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders File, Box 11, Jordan: King Hussein, 3/79–9/80. Secret; Immediate. Similar letters were sent to Khalid, Assad, King Hassan II of Morocco, President Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia, and President Jaafar Numeiri of Sudan. Printed from a copy that indicates the original was received in the White House Situation Room. Drafted by Saunders; cleared by Quandt and Tarnoff; approved by Vance. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790105–0371) An undated draft template of the letter, attached to a March 6 covering memorandum from Aaron to Carter, upon which Carter initialed his approval, is in the Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 51, Middle East: 3–6/79. The Department sent the letter to Khalid in telegram 55735 to Jidda, March 7. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790105–0362) The Department sent the letter to Assad in telegram 55733 to Damascus, March 7. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790105–0366)
  2. Suddarth delivered the letter to Sharaf, who received it on behalf of Hussein on March 8. (Telegram 1475 from Amman, March 8; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840166–2558) Suddarth, as instructed in telegram 56112 to Amman, March 7, also made a number of oral points to Sharaf acknowledging Hussein’s concerns over Carter’s visit to Egypt and Israel (see Document 197), and stating that the United States remained committed to the “goal of a comprehensive peace embracing all the parties that have been affected by the conflict” and would not “give assurances to one side that will make the other feel less secure.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Cables File, State Department Out, Box 115, 3/1–8/79)
  3. See footnote 2 above.