Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 1

684A.85/8–1054: Telegram

No. 857
The Ambassador in Jordan (Mallory) to the Department of State¹

secret

Amman, August 10, 1954—4 p.m.

45. Department telegram 38.² HKJ has always supported local commanders meetings as best means minimize border friction. In view intransigent statements Defense Minister Lavon re UNTSO and MAC to Israeli press correspondents as reported NEA policy report July 21, it is hoped top Israeli officials will realize importance such meetings.

Jordan stands prepared reinstitute local commanders meeting even though it suspects Israel will continue to pay them no more than lip service. US could allay Jordanian suspicions by attempting persuade Israel to give local commanders meetings a real and wholehearted try.

Re Tel Aviv telegram 147³ to Department, Embassy makes following observations:

1. Heretofore, Jordanian delegates to local commanders meetings have in some instances been Arab Legion Officers and sometimes police officers. HKJ agrees, however, in principle that cooperating authorities should be police officers since task is essentially of police nature. It is hoped that fact Jordan police are under administrative control of Arab Legion will not give Israel occasion to reject procedure on basis of legalism.

2. Embassy not aware that Jordan local commanders have in past delayed effectiveness of local commanders agreements by necessity of referring to higher authority.

3. As far as HKJ is concerned, success of local commanders meetings entirely dependent upon Israeli cooperation.

4. Embassy agrees UNTSO should be in position to use its influence to stop foot-dragging.

5. Embassy agrees “local police meetings” might be better name and believes HKJ would go along.

Mallory

1. Repeated to Tel Aviv, Cairo, New York, London, and Jerusalem.
2. Document 853.
3. Supra.