684A.85/3–11450: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Legation in Syria 1
95. Dept deplores attitude revealed by PriMin in press conference described ur 116, Mar 14. Nonaggression agreement between Jordan and Israel and normalization relations between the two countries wld be important step toward re-estab NE stability, so badly needed by all states in area, particularly Syria.
Dept’s interest in estab normal relations between Israel and Jordan, and between Israel and other Arab states, motivated by desire see present instability NE, with its resultant adverse effects upon strength and unity of area, disappear. Syrian notion that this attitude based on US concern over Israel’s econ situation of course utterly unfounded, and you shld make every effort disabuse Syrians of this idea.
Dept disturbed by Syrian Govt’s interference in Jordan-Israeli conversations by such means as PriMin’s statement re closing Syrian frontier with Jordan if Jordan-Israel agreement reached. Dept realizes task most difficult and Leg’s position delicate, but desires Leg endeavor [Page 808] discreetly persuade Syrian Govt cease interference and take no retaliatory action if agreement actually reached. It is to Syria’s advantage not to hinder gradual progress being made toward conditions of peace and stability in NE.
This tel being rptd Baghdad, Jidda and Cairo2 with instrs that Embs take similar action vis-à-vis respective Govts shld latter show signs deciding intervene in Jordan-Israeli talks or take retaliatory action against Jordan.3
- This telegram was repeated to Tel Aviv, London as No. 1221, Amman, and Jerusalem.↩
- On March 17.↩
- Embassy London, on March 23, reported information from the British Foreign Office that it would not instruct the British Minister at Damascus to approach the Syrian Government along the lines of telegram 1221 (telegram 1589, 684A.85/3–2350). Regarding telegram 1221, see footnote 1 above.↩