Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 1

684A.85/11–2853: Telegram

No. 745
The Chargé in Jordan (Lynch) to the Department of State¹

secret

Amman, November 28, 1953—10 a.m.

245. Deptel 231.² Reference telegram received here 6 p.m., November 25 and was unable to talk to Foreign Minister until 1 p.m., November 26 when he informed me that Jordan Government had formed Ministerial subcommittee consisting of 6 Cabinet Ministers to study carefully the whole question of the proposed conference between Israel and Jordan under provisions Article 12 General Armistice Agreement. His approach to the problem was extremely negative. He was particularly concerned with the level at which the talks would be held and was obviously fearful that Israel would out-maneuver Jordan in one way or another.

I conveyed Department’s views as outlined in reference telegram and pointed out the extremely favorable position Jordan now occupied in world opinion. I told Prime Minister that gracious acceptance by Jordan to attend conference would enable Jordan maintain that position whereas refusal, even if Jordan could find a way to refuse on technical grounds, would destroy advantageous position it now occupied.

. . . . . . .

I did not convey to Foreign Minister idea contained final sentence third paragraph reference telegram because:

(1) I did not think it would improve what was a perfectly sound case on its own merits; and

(2) I fear that any such statement to Jordan Government at this moment might give offense with no commensurable advantage to United States.

Lynch

1. Repeated to Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Jidda, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Paris, London, and New York.
2. Document 739.