Letter to Arab Leaders
(May 11, 1961)
This telegram outlines the United States' policy and goals for the
Middle East, speaking pointedly about a resolution to the Arab-Israeli
conflict, and discussing the importance of the issue of the Arab
refugees.
1971. Deliver following message Nasser from President/2/ advising date
and time delivery:/3/
/2/The letter is one of six sent from President Kennedy to Arab leaders
on May 11. Letters sent to President Chehab of Lebanon, King Hussein
of Jordan, Prime Minister Qassim of Iraq, King Saud of Saudi Arabia,
and Imam Ahmed of Yemen contained the same text, except for the fourth
and penultimate paragraphs, which were specially adapted for each country.
For additional information relating to the letters' origin and authorship,
see Document 42. Copies of the individualized texts for the leaders
of Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen are attached to a
May 5 memorandum from Talbot. See Supplement, the compilation on the
Arab-Israeli dispute.
/3/The Embassy in Cairo reported in telegram 1840 that the letter was
delivered to the President at 8 p.m. on May 12, Cairo time. (Department
of State, Central Files, 611.86B/5-1261)
"May 11, 1961. Dear Mr. President: In recent months the world's
attention has been centered on several explosive situations, the outcome
of which could spell the difference between freedom and servitude, between
peace and war, for many millions of people, ultimately perhaps for all
mankind. I know that you have been deeply concerned about these problems,
as I have been. However, I am confident that you share with me the conviction
that through the dedicated efforts of men of good will everywhere, the
storm clouds of the present can be dispersed.
Meanwhile, leaders responsive to the needs and aspirations of their
peoples must, in my firm opinion, be alert to every possibility for
advancing basic principles of political and economic justice. Thus,
while since my inauguration on January 20 I have perforce been largely
occupied with the several international crises of immediate concern,
I have given considerable thought to other international issues that
deserve the careful attention of us all.
My thoughts have often turned to the Middle East, an area which has
contributed so much to the religious and cultural heritage of the world
today, and whose potential for further rich contributions to civilization
is great. As an American I am proud that the concepts of our founding
patriots, of Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt,
have played so great a part in the emergence of vigorous, independent
Arab states, respected as sovereign equals in the international community.
I am proud of the tangible encouragement which has been accorded by
our government and people to the aspirations of you and your countrymen
in the past, particularly during the critical days of 1956. The United
States Government, itself the product of a union of several independent
states, was pleased to recognize the formation of the United Arab Republic
on February 22, 1958, the birthday anniversary of our own first President,
Washington.
In recent weeks I have noted some speculation as to the direction of
the policies of the new United States administration with respect to
the Middle East. Let me assure you that the concepts inherited from
the men mentioned above are part of the very fiber of this nation, and
that as its President I intend to uphold them. You will find us at all
times and all places active in the struggle for equality of opportunity;
for government of the people, by the people and for the people; for
freedom from want and fear; and for the application of justice in the
settlement of international disputes.
Translating these great precepts into United States policy in the Middle
East for the next few years, I want you to know that:
1. The United States will to the best of its ability lend every appropriate
assistance to all Middle Eastern states that are determined to control
their own destiny, to enhance the prosperity of their people, and to
allow their neighbors to pursue the same fundamental aims.
2. The United States remains ever ready to contribute both within and
outside the United Nations to the search for solutions to disputes which
dissipate the precious energies of the Middle Eastern states and retard
the economic progress which all free peoples rightly desire.
3. With a view toward improving the welfare of the people of the Middle
East, the United States is prepared to continue to support national
development programs which are effectively designed, to make available
American commodities under the Food for Peace program, and to encourage
educational exchanges designed to facilitate political and economic
progress.
While tensions unfortunately have sharpened in certain other areas
of the world, the Middle East during the past three years has been relatively
tranquil. This has been due largely to statesmanship on the part of
the area's leaders who have given priority to constructive programs
of economic development. Secretary Rusk and I have been struck by the
unanimity of views expressed to us by representatives of the various
Middle Eastern states emphasizing that the present relative tranquility
be preserved.
Underlying tensions do, however, remain, not the least of which is
the unresolved Arab-Israel controversy. I know deep emotions are involved.
No easy solution presents itself. The American government and people
believe that an honorable and humane settlement can be found and are
willing to share in the labors and burdens which so difficult an achievement
must entail, if the parties concerned genuinely desire such participation.
We are willing to help resolve the tragic Palestine refugee problem
on the basis of the principle of repatriation or compensation for properties,
to assist in finding an equitable answer to the question of Jordan River
water resources development and to be helpful in making progress on
other aspects of this complex problem.
I am pleased that the United Nations General Assembly recently underscored
the necessity to implement more rapidly its previous recommendations
on the refugee problem. In this connection, I wish to state unequivocally
that this Government's position is anchored and will continue to be
anchored in the firm bedrock of support for General Assembly recommendations
concerning the refugees, and of active, impartial concern that those
recommendations be implemented in a way most beneficial to the refugees.
The United States, as a member of the Palestine Conciliation Commission
and a nation keenly interested in the long-range advancement of the
peoples of the Middle East, takes seriously the task entrusted to the
Commission by the United Nations. We are determined to use our influence
to assure that the Commission intensify its efforts to promote progress
toward a just and peaceful solution. What precise steps the Commission
may be able to take are, of course, not yet clear, but I can assure
you that there will be no lack of United States interest in seeing that
effective action is taken. It is my sincere hope that all the parties
directly concerned will cooperate fully with whatever program is undertaken
by the Commission so that the best interests and welfare of all the
Arab refugees of Palestine may be protected and advanced.
With reference to relations between the United Arab Republic and the
United States, I recognize that our views on important problems do not
always coincide. At the same time I am pleased that mutually beneficial
relations continue to exist in many spheres and that United States assistance
in significant quantities has played a role in your own thorough and
detailed development program. As you know, I have recently made proposals
to the Congress for aiding in the preservation of Nubian monuments./4/
We continue to welcome the hundreds of UAR students who have entered
institutions in our country to further their educations. During his
recent consultations in Washington, Ambassador Reinhardt told me of
the significant progress which the United Arab Republic has already
made in establishing an industrial base which will permit increasing
prosperity and higher living standards for all your citizens. I am particularly
pleased that we have been able in times past to arrange under favorable
conditions the sale of substantial quantities of wheat and other commodities
to the United Arab Republic since we recognize the importance of an
adequately nourished population. It is my earnest hope that such mutually
beneficial cooperation can continue.
/4/Reference is to President Kennedy's April 7 letter to the President
of the U.S. Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives recommending
that the United States participate in the international campaign initiated
by UNESCO to preserve the ancient temples and other monuments in the
Nile Valley, the most important of which was Abu Simbel, that were threatened
with inundation as a result of the construction of the Aswan High Dam.
For text, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States:
John F. Kennedy, 1961, pp. 248-250. Documentation on this subject is
in Department of State, Central Files, 886B.421/4-2461, and Kennedy
Library, National Security Files, Country Series, United Arab Republic,
Preservation of Egyptian Temples.
I earnestly hope that these views of mine on the Middle East will prove
useful to you. Given the long history of friendly relationships between
the Arab people and the American people, and the interdependence of
all men who wish to remain free, I want to be certain that you and other
Arab leaders have no misunderstanding of our attitude towards the Arab
people. It continues to be one of sincere friendship. With mutual respect
for the other's points of view, mutual and active concern for the betterment
of mankind, and mutual striving to eliminate the causes of international
tensions, the future will bring even friendlier and more productive
relationships between our countries and their freedom-loving people.
Sincerely, John F. Kennedy."
White House has no plans publish this text but has no objection should
GUAR desire do so./5/
/5/Following Near East press reports indicating that President Kennedy
had sent letters to Arab leaders, on May 23 Meyer checked with Talbot
and Feldman at the White House. He then informed Israeli Ambassador
Harman that letters had been sent and described their general nature.
A note on the brief memorandum of conversation reads: "It was felt
important that Prime Minister Ben-Gurion who was passing through New
York enroute to Canada that evening be accurately aware of the general
nature of the letters so that he would not infer they were of some sort
of anti-Israel character." (Department of State, Central Files,
786B.00/5-2361)
Bowles
Sources: Department of State, Central Files, 611.86B/5-1161. Confidential; Priority; Verbatim Text. Drafted by Meyer and Palmer; cleared by Talbot, Cleveland, and Dungan at the White House; and approved by Mau (S/S), who initialed for Bowles.
The
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