Memorandum on Signing of Jordan Arms Package
(March 26, 1968)
This memo from Under Secretary for Political Affairs
Walt Rostow to President Johnson discusses an arms package
for Jordan and shows the Administration's concern for
American Jewish reaction.
SUBJECT
Signing Jordan Arms Package
After weeks of negotiation, the Jordan Arms package
is ready for signing. Nick Katzenbach would like to authorize Ambassador
Symmes to sign tomorrow but does not want to go ahead without our OK.
The plan is to do this without publicity for the moment.
As you know, this negotiation has gone on for some
weeks. It just happens that all the details are now wrapped up. It may
not be the best time in view of continuing terrorist attacks and last
week's Israeli raid. However, there may not be any good time, and the
main purpose of this exercise is to bolster Hussein. The equipment involved
in this deal will not arrive in Jordan for some time.
For balance, Luke Battle has rescheduled the signing
of the Israeli PL-480 agreement for this Friday morning. (2) That will
get some publicity.
My own feeling is that our public, especially the Jewish
community, has accepted the resumption of military sales to Jordan.
I doubt that the simple act of signing will cause much additional reaction,
even if it leaks out. The press already writes as if the deal has long
since been wrapped up.
Therefore, I recommend that we tell
State to go ahead. But I do not wish to do so without
informing you.1
Walt
1The president
checked the approval line. The memorandum of understanding
and protocol were signed in Amman on March 28 by Prime
Minister Talhouni and Ambassador Symmes.
Sources: Foreign
Relations of the United States, 1964-1968, V. 20, Arab-Israeli Dispute
1967-1968. DC: GPO,
2001. |