370. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan1
Washington, December 13, 1966, 9:34 p.m.
102121. Deliver to Ambassador Opening of Business December 14.
- 1.
- Khammash had appointment with Secretary McNamara morning December 13. We have sent to you by septel through Defense channels substance of response given Khammash at that meeting.2 Response presented to Khammash as package having SecDef approval but not yet cleared throughout USG. We anticipate King will receive message from Khammash early December 14 reporting discussion. Khammash was very disappointed over amount equipment under consideration and King may have similar reaction.
- 2.
- You should seek immediate audience with King and inform him President is sending Ambassador Macomber as his special emissary to give King full benefit USG views re GOJ request. President requests that King receive Ambassador Macomber, whom he has designated both as person favorably and personally known to King and as one who has been intimately involved in Washington deliberations this subject.
- 3.
- Macomber arrival now planned for Friday, December 16, and we prefer postpone discussions on force and equipment levels of JAA [Page 725] and economic and budgetary matters until he arrives Amman. Talking points for Macomber will be sent septel.3
- 4.
- It essential that King not take action inconsistent with existing relationship between US and Jordan as emotional reaction to report received from Khammash. If you have any reason believe that King will take steps toward establishment Military Directorate for West Bank or other action detrimental our objectives, you should advise him that we believe this would have very serious consequences for Jordan and might seriously complicate US-Jordan relations.
- 5.
- FYI. Package we are offering GOJ represents both painful and substantial effort on our part, including diversion from other country programs in present extremely tight MAP funding situation. We aware it falls far short of King’s request, but hope Macomber mission with your help will forestall drastic reaction damaging to our own and GOJ interests while we endeavor persuade King of necessity adopting more realistic course. To this end, our approach is to offer prompt delivery of significant equipment package and our assent to pay raise while sending Macomber to discuss USG concern re longer term implications for aid levels and Jordan’s economic future which larger program, particularly increased force levels, would involve. End FYI.
Katzenbach
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 12–5 JORDAN. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Atherton and Marshall W. Wiley; cleared by Handley, Macomber, and in substance by Wriggins and Hoopes; and approved by Katzenbach. Repeated to London.↩
- See Document 367.↩
- Telegram 102795 to Amman, December 14. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 7 US/MACOMBER)↩