Israel-Jordan Relations: British Cabinet Seeks to Ease Israeli-Jordanian Tensions
(March 24, 1954)
The Foreign Secretary said that a serious situation was developing as a result of the latest incident on the Jordan-Israel frontier. The Israeli Government had now declared their intention of withdrawing their representatives from the Mixed Armistice Commission. It would not, he thought, be profitable to seek a solution in the United Nations or in tripartite discussions between the United States, France and the United Kingdom, The United Kingdom Government might, however, take an independent initiative,' in view of their specially close ties with both Israel and Jordan. He was therefore proposing to suggest to the Ambassadors of both countries that secret conversations should be held in London between representatives of their Governments and of Her Majesty's Government. The scope of these conversations would be limited to the problem of avoiding continuing friction on the Jordan-Israel frontier.
The Cabinet—
Approved the initiative which the Foreign Secretary proposed to take with a view to promoting discussions between the two Governments on the problem of averting disorder on the Jordan-Israel frontier.
Source: British National Archives CAB 128/27/22