246. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Jordan1
121415. Subject: Presidential Message to King Hussein.
1. Please deliver to King Hussein the following message from the President.
2. Begin text: Your Majesty:
I have read Ambassador Pickering’s reports of his recent talks with you,2 and I want you to know how important I consider it that we remain in touch on matters of deep concern to both of us. Ambassador Pickering has shared with you in more detail some of the results of our recent talks with Egyptian and Israeli leaders. I was glad to learn that President Sadat has also been keeping you informed.
I would like to emphasize that we are keeping to our course and there has been no change in our policy. The negotiations are not going forward as rapidly as I had hoped, but we will be doing our best in the weeks ahead to bridge some of the gaps.
In our most recent exchanges, we have focused almost exclusively on the arrangements for the West Bank and Gaza and the declaration of principles. As those discussions proceed, it will be of crucial importance that Jordan’s voice be heard. I hope that you and President Sadat [Page 1139] will coordinate your positions to the maximum degree so that early progress can be made in developing negotiating guidelines for the West Bank and Gaza. Once those negotiations begin in earnest, Jordan’s role will be central.
The fact that the two of us could not meet during the visit you had been planning to make to the United States in late May and early June was a disappointment to me. Unfortunately, my schedule in this period is as full and crowded as at any time since I took office. However, I wish to assure you personally that our inability to meet at this time in no way reflects a lessening of my interest in the closest possible relations with Jordan. I attach special importance to the friendly ties between our two countries and to the periodic meetings which have become traditional between you and every other American President beginning with General Eisenhower.
I would like to give further thought while Middle East negotiations proceed as to when talks between the two of us might best take place. Clearly, a meeting would be of maximum utility and timeliness for both the United States and Jordan after we have made more progress in discussions with the Israelis and Egyptians. We will want to have the opportunity to clarify our own thinking on the West Bank and Gaza issues and where we should go next.
In any event, the two of us should remain in regular and close touch. I will continue to rely on you for your thoughts and advice on how we might pursue our course in the period ahead.
Your leadership will be vital in overcoming difficulties and in assuring the success of our common efforts to find peace in the Middle East.
With warmest regards. Sincerely, Jimmy Carter.
End text.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780202–0665. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Draper; cleared by Quandt, Saunders, Newsom, and Tarnoff; and approved by Secretary Vance.↩
- Pickering’s talks with Hussein are described in telegram 4140 from Amman, May 8. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P850101–1451)↩