Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Lebanon and Jordan, Volume XI

246. Letter From Secretary of State Dulles to Prime Minister Macmillan¹

Washington, August 1, 1958.

Dear Harold: Immediately upon my return to Washington I asked my staff to examine the supply problem of British forces in Amman, as outlined in your letter of July 27 and its attached note.² They were also directed to address themselves to the similar memorandum³ that Marshal Dickson gave Mr. Barbour at the time we were discussing this problem on July 27.

A memorandum on this subject has been prepared and a copy is attached.⁴ This memorandum, I believe, presents a better picture than I had anticipated. I am particularly glad to note that you have been able to send two ships through the Canal and that we have been able to airlift such a large quantity of supplies to Amman. The fact that one of your ships appears to be a commercial vessel is particularly good news for it is in line with the President’s view expressed in his message of July 23⁵ that it is preferable to use commercial vessels as much as possible in that area.

The only point that has been left open is the request that we continue a small airlift of one or two sorties a day from Cyprus to Amman after the major airlift draws to an end around August 6. Our military are reluctant to undertake such a general commitment and I am concerned over the Israeli clearance problem. Up to now the Israelis certainly have been most helpful, but you will recall that it was only with considerable difficulty that I was able to get the clearance “for a few days”. Ben Gurion is, moreover, under considerable pressure on the question of overflight clearances and I do not see how we can guarantee the continuance of this airlift. We of course would reexamine the matter should the situation make it imperative to do so.

I also note that there is some feeling here that our assistance in this area should be coordinated at one point. An informal working committee that has been established with your Embassy in Washington and which meets once a day to handle the POL problem for Jordan seems to have done an excellent job. I would suggest that this ad hoc group extend its work to include these other matters relating to our assistance in supplying your troops in Amman.⁶

Faithfully yours,

Foster⁷

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 785.00/8–258. Top Secret. Drafted in C by G.M. Godley and cleared by Frederick W. Jandrey in EUR, Berry in NEA, Dillon, Dulles, and in Defense by General Picher, Captain Costello, and Irwin. Transmitted to London in telegram 1398, August 2, for delivery to the Prime Minister. Telegram 1398, which is the source text, was repeated to Amman and to Beirut for Murphy.
2. See footnote 2, Document 237.
3. Attached to a memorandum of conversation between Dickson and Barbour on July 27. Dickson’s memorandum, like the note attached to Macmillan’s letter, laid out the ways in which the United States might provide “urgently needed” assistance in the maintenance of U.K. forces in Jordan. (Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 63 D 123, CF 1061; included in the microfiche supplement)
4. The text of this memorandum is ibid. The memorandum, prepared in the Department of State, addressed the requests for support in supplying the British troops in Jordan and concluded that airlift support should continue as authorized by Israel until August 6, after which the British could sustain their forces by sea from Cyprus through the Suez Canal to Aqaba. Since the British had already demonstrated the capability to transit the canal under British flag, there appeared to be no necessity to accede to the request for U.S. transport.
5. Document 222.
6. Dulles also addressed a letter to Macmillan on August 2, transmitted to London in telegram 1400, August 2, in which he responded to Macmillan’s letter of July 27 proposing joint U.S.–U.K. military planning for Middle Eastern contingencies. (See Document 237) Dulles concurred that it would be wise to “step up” joint military planning, and proposed to do so by developing further the liaison arrangements established in London with Admiral Holloway’s London-based staff. (Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 204; included in the microfiche supplement)
7. Telegram 1398 bears this typed signature.