10. Telegram From the Embassy in Jordan to the Department of State1
67. As instructed Deptel 88 July 27 [26]2 requested audience with King Hussein who received me 1130 today. Reviewed border situation with him including information Jerusalem’s 21 July 263 that wounding UN observer and Jordanian officer investigating exchange fire near Kastel July 25 now definitely established as work Jordanian villagers. Then went over with him in detail points made Deptel 88 including USG concern at continuing incidents, apparent lack well-disciplined Jordanian efforts maintain order and our support strongest cooperation with MAC and UNTSO. Emphasized as especially deplorable wounding UNTSO observer, importance to Jordan affording maximum protection UN observer personnel and urged HKJ take all possible measures end present bloody cycle.
King’s reply on which he allowed me take notes as follows:
In my opinion Jews trying their best picture Israeli-Jordan border as highly unstable. They using their wide-spread propaganda organization to put Jordanians in wrong and swing public opinion to Israeli side in order justify possible aggressive action in not too distant future. In past Jordan has done all it could prevent anyone crossing demarcation line and efforts this direction being strengthened all the time.
Incident in which observers injured near Mount Scopus not fault Jordan but clear proof Israelis violating armistice agreement and storing munitions various types on that mountain. We regret injuring of UN personnel that area but do not feel responsible. As to Kastel Beit Surik incident we do not yet know how shooting started. We do know Arab villages fired on with rifles, machine guns and substantial number mortar shells. After firing continued many hours Jordan replied but only with small arms. We look to UN to obtain complete and accurate story this incident and will cooperate with them. Regret very much having to shoot but when attacked must defend ourselves.
As you know we have very severe law against infiltrators and have issued orders shoot infiltrators regardless direction they going, but there more than one kind infiltration. Consider for instance [Page 21] Israeli tactics of sending explosives to persons inside Arab countries. This particularly dangerous form action which appears to me to be aggression.
Please inform your government Jordan regrets deeply wounding of UN observer near Kastel July 25. We have in past done everything possible protect UN observers and shall continue do so. Do not forget however inhabitants of many frontier villages living under tension for years. When this tension heightened by shelling it is regrettable but not surprising villagers may lose judgment and shoot innocent bystanders. We are taking strongest measures against those responsible, but all I can say at moment is repeat my regrets and assure you we too deeply interested bringing present cycle incidents to immediate end.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.85/7–2756. Confidential; Niact. Received at 6:43 p.m. Repeated to Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Jerusalem, London, Paris, Moscow, Tel Aviv, and USUN.↩
- Vol. XV, p. 904.↩
- Reference should be telegram 29 from Jerusalem, July 26, not printed. (Department of State, Central Files, 684A.85/7–2656)↩