273. Letter From President Nixon to King Hussein of Jordan1
I am always pleased to hear from such a close and valued friend and have read your letter2 with great concern.
Your letter emphasizes Jordan’s urgent need for financial support, while at the same time acknowledging our current legislative difficulties.3 As a result of these difficulties, we have had to delay action with regard to further financial assistance to several of our friends including Jordan. While our means for responding to world-wide needs [Page 970] continue to be extremely limited, I am pleased to inform you that we can provide you immediately with an additional $15 million. Regarding the level of possible assistance during 1972,4 you can be sure that the United States is aware of the urgency of this matter and that we will communicate with your officials about it shortly.
I continue to follow developments in Jordan closely and as you know attach great importance to our close and friendly relationship.
With warmest personal regards,
Sincerely,
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 797, Presidential Correspondence 1969–1974, Jordan—King Hussein. No classification marking. The letter was transmitted to the Embassy in Amman in telegram 6707, January 13. (Ibid., Box 617, Country Files, Middle East, Jordan, Vol. VIII)↩
- Hussein’s letter was transmitted in telegram 5561 from Amman, December 10, 1971. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–1 JORDAN)↩
- Before adjourning for the year on December 17, 1971, Congress passed a stopgap resolution to extend until February 22, 1972, the nation’s foreign aid program, the size of which had become the subject of controversy and debate. At the time of this exchange of letters between Nixon and Hussein, Congress was expected to approve an appropriations bill that included $1.2 billion less than the administration had requested. (New York Times, December 18, 1971, p. 1)↩
- Saunders informed Kissinger in a January 24 memorandum that, because of public reports that Jordan had transferred F–104 aircraft to Pakistan during the most recent war with India, it had become “immediately ineligible” for further aid under the Foreign Assistance Act. For Jordan to receive the aid that the Nixon administration had intended, the President would have to sign a waiver that allowed Jordan’s use of the act’s funds as justified by its importance to the security of the United States. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 617, Country Files, Middle East, Jordan, Vol. VIII)↩