396.1 LO/10–1653: Telegram
No. 297
The United
States Delegation at the Tripartite Foreign Ministers
Conference to the Department of
State1
Secto 3. At tripartite meeting this afternoon, Eden raised question of Israel–Jordan incident.2Selwyn Lloyd reported he had called in Israeli Ambassador who has no information on incident. Selwyn Lloyd asked him inform his government that UK felt Israel should take initiative in withdrawing troops, punishing those responsible and offering compensation for deaths and damage. Israelis should also cooperate with MAC by abandoning Banat Yacov work and facilitating inspection Mt. Scopus area. Selwyn Lloyd added that Jordan Government was being advised to exercise restraint and withdraw Arab Legion which has been moved west of Jordan River.
Eden suggested there was nothing further to be done at the moment but that Foreign Ministers might inform press they had discussed matter. This was done. Secretary described his two recent conversations with Israeli Ambassador Washington in which he had earnestly requested Israel moderate attitude and stated present incident assumes added gravity in light these conversations. Bidault suggested possibility of issuing statement based on third paragraph tripartite statement of May 1950.3
Later in meeting Eden read urgent telegram from British Embassy Washington stating Department proposed referring matter to Security Council today. Secretary approved and Bidault approved suggesting again basing action on May 1950 declaration which he thought should be strengthened and reaffirmed in every way possible. Eden had doubts but promised have answer later tonight or in morning.
- Repeated to Amman, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Paris.↩
- On the night of Oct. 14–15 Israeli forces had raided the Jordanian village of Qibya destroying buildings and killing many of the civilian population.↩
- Regarding the 1950 Declaration, see Foreign Relations, 1950, vol. iii, Part 2, p. 1029, footnote 4.↩