Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V

684A.85/9–1750: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Legation in Syria ¹

confidential
priority

Washington, September 19, 1950—3 a. m.

112. Sense fol may be conveyed to FonOff in response approach subject ur 144 Sept 17.²

US Govt Sept 9 received note from Jordan Govt alleging Israel penetration into terr vicinity confluence Jordan and Yarmuk rivers. Note said terr in question was part of original Trans Jordan mandate, and invoked Tripartite Declaration maintaining question of violation of frontiers involved.

US Govt Sept 10 informed Jordan Govt that US, concerned over any reports of circumstances which might lead to outbreak of hostilities, was bringing subject of Jordanian note urgently to attention of Israel Govt expressing concern re reported Israeli move. US Govt assured Jordan Govt it shared latter’s concern over situation and would follow matter very closely, with view determining whether reported incident could best be resolved by UN machinery in Pal or whether Tripartite Declaration might provide the formula. US Govt also stressed necessity obtaining full details of incident and suggested desirability complete report on situation by UN Reps in Palestine area.

Investigation by these UN officials has revealed that Israel-Jordan armistice line, as drawn up on Rhodes by Israel and Jordan Reps in presence Acting Mediator, placed present disputed area in terr under Israel control. View this circumstance and fact Jordan Govt position is that terr of original Trans Jordan Mandate was not and could not have been subject of discussion during Rhodes armistice talks, Dept suggested to Jordan Min Sept 12 that since present trouble seemed to be traceable to agreement during Rhodes discussions to armistice line which in disputed area did not follow international frontier between Palestine and Trans Jordan mandates, best way to handle would be for Jordan Govt to make use of provisions of Israel-Jordan armistice agreement applying to machinery for revision of armistice line. Under these provisions Israel and Jordan have agreed to several revisions of line since signature of agreement. Jordan Min said he wld convey this suggestion to his Govt.

You should assure FonOff that US Govt in its constant concern for security and well-being of NE and as signatory Tripartite Declaration, will keep close watch on above situation.³

Webb

1. This telegram was repeated to Tel Aviv, other Arab capitals, London, and Paris.
2. Not printed; it gave the text of an oral message from a Foreign Office spokesman inquiring concerning the attitude of the U.S. Government toward the “Zionist aggression on Jordanian territory”. (684A.85/9–1750) Legation Damascus, on September 19, reported a conversation with the Syrian Minister of Defense, who made the following points: The Syro-Israeli Armistice may be considered broken, because of armed aggression against an Arab State; the Arab League Security Pact provides for joint defense against aggression aimed at any signatory; the Syrian Army favors direct and immediate use of force if necessary rather than formal protests, “Since US apparently refrains from effective interference in Israeli faits accomplish”; and that the Syrian army has taken precautionary measures. (Telegram 147, 684A.85/9–1950)

3. Legation Damascus read telegram 112 to Prime Minister Qudsi on September 27. The Prime Minister expressed his disappointment with the U.S. message, stating that the Rutenberg incident followed the usual pattern of Israeli aggression and relegation of a fait accompli to a low-level mixed commission. At the same time, the Legation conveyed its impressions that the Prime Minister was on the defensive, realizing that Syria had acted precipitously, and that Syria and the other Arab States did not plan to use the incident in connection with the larger issue of alleged Israeli aggression and violation of armistice agreements. (Telegram 160, September 29, 684A.85/9–2950)

   The Jordanian Minister, on October 3, left with the Department of State a copy of an explanatory note on the Yarmuk incident sent by his Government to the President of the Security Council. The note dealt chiefly with the alleged map falsification and with the Jordanian position that the negotiations at Rhodes could not concern territory in the original Trans Jordan Mandate. The Department expressed to the Minister the viewpoints set forth in the penultimate paragraph of telegram 112 to Damascus. (Telegram 56, October 3, to Amman, 684A.85/10–350)