330. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State1
1708. Amman’s 961.2 Embassy asked Foreign Office (Hadow) September 24 regarding United Kingdom plans for withdrawal of British troops from Jordan. Hadow explained situation as follows:
United Kingdom has sent text of SYG Hammarskjold’s report3 on his Middle East trip which satisfactory particularly in that it provides methods for bringing pressure on UAR including possibility of further action in UN should UAR fail to abide by August 21 GA resolution.4 Accordingly United Kingdom has prepared statement in consultation with Abdul Monem Rifai in New York and cleared with Hammarskjold to effect that United Kingdom and Jordan are agreed that British troops in Jordan should start withdrawal in October and contemplate that withdrawal will be completed in October provided situation permits. Selwyn Lloyd hopes to issue statement before leaving New York September 26. Prime Minister Macmillan has insisted that statement be worded so as not to bind United Kingdom to fixed dates.
HMG would like to issue second statement before October 10 giving date for start of withdrawal of troops. October 10 date is related to Conservative Party conference in advance of which HMG wishes to have announced date for withdrawal.
Regarding actual withdrawal Chiefs of Staff insist that because of small number of men involved, operation once started must be carried to completion. Present intention is to move Cameronians and heavy equipment out through Aqaba with Cameronians going to Aden. Para-troop units with light equipment would be moved out by air. Entire operations to take 14 to 17 days once necessary shipping assembled.
Lloyd has spoken to Hammarskjold regarding overflights of Syria for withdrawal purposes. Hammarskjold said matter would have to be negotiated out with UAR, but he foresaw no difficulties.
British Ambassador Amman has warned that early withdrawal of British troops involves grave risk of coup in Jordan. Ambassador particularly apprehensive of action by non-Beduin section of Arab army [Page 579] led by Deputy COS Sadiq Ash-Shara. For this reason Ambassador still pressing his recommendation that United States and United Kingdom, before withdrawal of British troops, agree to King Hussein’s request for additional Beduin units in order to give clear preponderance within army to Beduin elements. Ambassador has advised that plans for possible evacuation of British community be placed in readiness. Foreign Office, without endorsing Ambassador views, asked that they be brought to Department’s attention.
Hadow added Foreign Office believes there are four ways in which UAR can demonstrate insofar as Jordan concerned that it will respect call for good neighborliness contained in August 21 resolution: Permit free movement of goods between Jordan and Beirut, permit free movement of Jordan subjects between Jordan and Beirut, cease hostile propaganda broadcasts and cease efforts at subversion. UN should be able to establish easily facts with respect of first two points and UAR should remove restrictions before withdrawal of British troops. Last two points will always be open to controversy and differences of interpretation.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 785.5441/9–2458. Secret. Repeated to Amman, Cairo, Damascus, and Tel Aviv.↩
- In telegram 961 from Amman, September 23, Wright reported on a conversation with British Ambassador Johnston concerning the timing of the withdrawal of British forces from Jordan. (Ibid., 785.00/9–2358; included in the microfiche supplement)↩
- Apparently a preliminary draft of the report submitted by Hammarskjöld to the General Assembly on September 29. For a summary of the report, see Document 337.↩
- See Document 287.↩