684A.85/1–254: Telegram
No. 760
The Secretary of
State to the Embassy in
Israel1
496. In informal conversation with Israeli Minister Shiloah today, Department Officer suggested that it would be well for Israel to avoid drastic action in response to anticipated Jordanian rejection of proposed Article 12 talks.2 Suggested Israel might be well advised to accept “alternative” of discussions in MAC under Article 11. Department expressed thought that important thing is to make contact and at least open possibility of concrete progress rather than simply to score legal debating point against Jordan for violating Article 12 provisions. Pointed out our understanding that Arabs had made considerable effort to avoid being completely negative in reply to Secretary General’s communication which Department felt was encouraging sign.
Shiloah said his Government had reached no decision on how to treat negative answer but he personally thought that it impossible [Page 1470] to agree that talks under Article 11 could replace Article 12 meeting or to acquiesce in Jordan violation of AA by refusal to abide by Article 12. Considered this would undermine whole structure of Armistice Agreements with other Arab States as well as with Jordan and could even have repercussions in other areas by weakening respect for international engagements. Pointed out US has recently been emphasizing importance of maintaining Armistice Agreements in connection with Qibya and Banat Ya’qub and should not take different attitude this case.
Agreeing it probably unwise for Israel to take precipitate action, Shiloah promised to convey our tentative thoughts to Jerusalem. (It was made clear our suggestions did not represent firm US position.) He thought however proper course for Israel would be to continue efforts to bring about Article 12 meeting. One possible means he mentioned would be for Secretary General to convoke such meeting under his authority conferred by Armistice Agreement without regard to Jordanian response to his initial inquiry.
In course conversation, Shiloah expressed strong hope we would not inform Arabs that we had made any suggestion to Israel re possible acquiesence in Jordanian position.
He raised again question of Egyptian blockade of shipments to Israel through Suez contrary to terms Security Council resolution and argued it inconsistent for US to ignore this while censuring Israel for violations of Armistice Agreements. Insisted Israel would sooner or later have to bring this question to a head, either through new Security Council appeal or possibly by requesting direct talks with Egypt under provisions of Armistice Agreement. He was told we saw no advantage in forcing this issue.
- Repeated to Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Jidda, and Jerusalem.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 738.↩