Office of the Historian

684A.85/9–1050: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Israel 1

secret
niact
Washington, September 10, 1950—7 p. m.

106. Please bring substance of Amman tel 58 Sep 92 rptd you as 21, urgently to attention FonOff, and state USG wld appreciate receiving info from Israeli Govt on matter. Add that “USG, as friend both Israel find Jordan and deeply concerned over any reports of circumstances which might lead to outbreak of hostilities, disturbed by events described in Jordan FonMin’s note. State that US rep Amman being instructed urge Jordan Govt take no precipitate action, view desirability full examination and report on situation by UN reps in Palestine.3 Say that USG, lacking detailed info on alleged incursion, unable reach final conclusion on rights and wrongs of matter pending receipt of report of UN reps. Add that, however, view apparent explosive [Page 996] nature of situation and urgent necessity prevent any outbreak of hostilities, particularly when Israeli-Jordan talks about to take place in Special Comite, it is opinion USG that, if Israeli forces have made move described in Jordan note, course of wisdom requires their withdrawal pending full examination of circumstances.4

Acheson
  1. This telegram was repeated to London, Amman, Jerusalem, and Paris.↩
  2. Not printed; but see footnote 4, supra.↩
  3. See telegram 42, infra.↩
  4. Embassies London, on September 13, and Paris, on September 14, advised that the British and French Foreign Offices were taking parallel action. (Telegrams 1559 and 1360, respectively, 684A.85/9–1350, /9–1450)↩