490. Telegram From the Embassy in Jordan to the Department of State1
57. Hammarskjold spent two hours Amman morning July 21,2 conferring with Foreign Minister,3 Under Secretary Foreign Affairs4 General Ali Abu Nuwar and Ambassador Abdul Munim Rifai.5 Under Secretary Foreign Affairs says Hammarskjold told them he was concerned situation Jordan-Israeli border following Burns talks Ben Gurion6 and King Hussein,7 particularly alleged or real troop concentrations. Because UNSYG felt little progress without first hand contact he had come from Geneva at this time. Said he had informed Ben Gurion (A) Israeli retaliation Arab raids or infiltration did not constitute defense and would adversely effect Israeli position world opinion and (B) this also applied retaliatory acts Jordan which [Page 885] should increase efforts keep frontier quiet and refrain bellicose acts or words.
In reply HKJ told UNSYG Jordan doing utmost combat infiltration. Not only has Jordan law against infiltration but military has issued orders to shoot all infiltrators regardless direction they going. Hammarskjold assured Jordan has no aggressive intentions. On other hand country cannot allow itself be taken by surprise. Therefore, when in best estimate Jordan country is threatened HKJ considers itself free take steps necessary adequate self-defense.
Press reports UNSYG said visit continuation last trip area and he returned Amman because tense conditions Israeli border.
Hammarskjold departed for Cairo about noon July 21.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.85/7–2356. Confidential. Received at 3:06 p.m. Repeated to Ankara, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, London, and Paris.↩
- Hammarskjöld stopped in Amman the morning of July 21 for talks with Jordanian officials before continuing to Cairo that day.↩
- Awni Abdel Hadi.↩
- Ibrahim Hashim.↩
- Jordanian Ambassador to the United States.↩
- See Documents 417 and 418.↩
- See Document 421.↩