684A.85/3–650
Memorandum by the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Hare) to the Secretary of State
Subject: Telegrams to Amman and Tel Aviv concerning Israel-Jordan negotiations.
Discussion:
After a conversation with the Israeli Foreign Minister in which the latter suggested that a personal message of encouragement from President Truman to King Abdullah of Jordan might be helpful in resolving the present stalemate in the Israeli-Jordanian negotiations (Tab A),1 Ambassador McDonald in Tel Aviv has telegraphed the President and yourself urging that the President send such a message to the King, and also that the Department approach the Egyptian Government in an attempt to obtain a sympathetic understanding in Egypt of the desirability and necessity that Jordan reach an agreement with Israel (Tab B).2
It is our belief that, motivated by his own personal interests, King Abdullah has gone as far as he could in attempting to reach an agreement with Israel. He had accepted the resignation of one Cabinet which refused to accede to his wishes to agree to the projected agreement with Israel, was unable to establish another Cabinet which would so agree, and has been forced to reinstate the first government. A message from the President to the King would in our opinion not help the King vis-à-vis his Government. Moreover, King Abdullah is already in receipt of a message of indirect encouragement from the [Page 788] President concerning negotiations with Israel, sent on December 30, 1949, in response to a telegram from the King (Tab C).3
Under the circumstances we do not believe that another message from the President is desirable. However, a message authorizing, our Minister in Amman discreetly to encourage the King and the Jordan Government to continue the conversations with Israel might be helpful. A draft of such a message is attached for your consideration (Tab D).4
With regard to Ambassador McDonald’s suggestion that the United States Government approach the Government of Egypt, we have received no information that Egypt is actively intervening concerning the Jordan-Israeli conversations beyond the usual radio and press criticism of Abdullah. However, we are asking our Embassy in Cairo and our missions in the other Arab capitals for comments on this point. A draft telegram to Tel Aviv concerning this suggestion is attached (Tab E).5
Recommendations:
That you approve the attached telegrams to Amman and Tel Aviv.
Since the incoming telegram from Ambassador McDonald is addressed to the President as well as to yourself, it is suggested that if you approve the attached telegrams you may wish to convey to the President the sense of these messages at your meeting with him on Thursday morning, March 9.
Concurrences:
UNA concurs.