Office of the Historian

334. Memorandum of a Conversation, New York, September 26, 1958, 10 a.m.1

New York, September 26, 1958, 10 a.m.

SUBJECT

  • Withdrawal of British Forces from Jordan

PARTICIPANTS

  • United States
    • The Secretary
    • Mr. J. N. Greene, Jr.
  • United Kingdom
    • Mr. Selwyn Lloyd
    • Sir Pierson Dixon
    • Mr. William M. Rountree
    • Sir Harold Caccia
    • Mr. Anthony Moore
    • Mr. Denis Laskey

Following is a summary of the portion of the Secretary’s meeting with Foreign Minister Lloyd dealing with Jordan:

Mr. Lloyd referred to a message which he had just received from the British Ambassador at Amman stating that King Hussein would like to announce in a speech from the throne October 1 his understanding with the British regarding the withdrawal of forces. Mr. Lloyd said that this would be a good occasion from the Jordanian viewpoint to announce withdrawal, but he thought the date would be too soon after publication of Secretary General Hammarskjold’s report. He had hoped that the Secretary General’s report indicating British intention regarding withdrawal could be published and that there could be provided several days thereafter to observe measures taken in implementation of the United Nations resolution. He was concerned that there should not be set into motion irrevocable steps for British withdrawal without some assurance that the situation in Jordan would be changed for the better.

Mr. Rountree mentioned that we had something of the same problem with respect to Lebanon. We felt it necessary to announce our intention to withdraw by the end of October. However, we were including in our statement that the withdrawal would be completed by October 31, barring unforeseen developments. Perhaps the British problem could be met if King Hussein should make it clear that his arrangements with the British envisaged withdrawal of British forces by the end of October, barring unforeseen developments.

Mr. Lloyd seemed to favor such an approach. It should be made clear that the withdrawal plans were predicated on the assumption that the Secretary General’s plans would be carried out.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 785.5441/9–2658. Secret. Drafted by Rountree. The source text indicates that the conversation took place at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.↩