Letter to Jordanian King Hussein
Discussing Refugees
(September 13, 1962)
This letter is addresses
to King
Hussein from President
Kennedy thanking
Jordan for its cooperation in discussing
matters related to the solving of the Palestinian
refugee problem, in addition to calling for
the nation's continued support for achieving
stability in the Middle East region.
Your Majesty: Dr. Joseph
E. Johnson, Special Representative of the
Palestine Conciliation Commission, has now
presented to the Commission, to the Arab
host governments and to Israel his plan for
resolution of the Palestine refugee problem.
During Dr. Johnson's skillful and unremitting
efforts of the past year, I have continued
to take a keen personal interest in the Arab
refugees. As I wrote you on May 11, 1961: ". . . there
will be no lack of United States interest in seeing that effective action
is taken. It is my sincere hope that all 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." Therefore,
today I write you again frankly, and in
confidence.
While Dr. Johnson is the representative of a United
Nations body, it is both fitting and necessary that the United States,
as a member of both the United Nations and the Palestine Conciliation
Commission, and as the principal financial supporter of UNRWA, provide
assistance and support to him. It is only as the members of the United
Nations stand behind the work of its organs that meaningful results
can be obtained. The cooperation and support of Jordan for Dr. Johnson's
plans are also essential if the plan is to be successful in its humanitarian
purpose of making possible fruitful lives for the Arab refugees. The
particular significance for your country, of course, lies in the fact
that nearly half of the refugees are found within Jordan's borders.
Thus your attitude and that of your Government toward the Johnson Plan
will have a critical bearing on its outcome.
I regard Dr. Johnson's plan as both fair and practical
for the countries directly affected and for the refugees. Therefore
I have asked Ambassador Macomber to share with you my thinking. It is
my keen hope that you will find Dr. Johnson's plan not only advantageous
to Jordan but a practical means of alleviating the plight of the refugees.
I am optimistic that despite obvious difficulties both at the outset
and as the plan proceeds Your Majesty's statesmanship can find ways
to overcome these problems.
Since writing you nearly sixteen months ago, I have
followed with close attention and interest developments in the Kingdom
of Jordan. Thanks to your generous expenditure of time and to your frankness
in discussing with him matters of mutual interest, Ambassador Macomber
has been enabled to keep me fully informed. I have been gratified at
the relationship which you have permitted to grow, reflecting the cordial
and fruitful ties existing between our two countries and the mutual
regard which prevails. Jordan's stability and integrity are important
to the Free World.
Particularly impressive is the progress being made
by the Government of Jordan under your leadership in meeting the myriad
problems which inevitably arise when a people seeks rapidly to create
a modern state with a stable political system, an economy employing
fully the resources available, and a social system guaranteeing freedom
and opportunity for all. In these efforts, Your Majesty, you and your
Government will have the continuing encouragement, support, and assistance
of the United States. In turn, of course, I should like to feel that
the United States can continue to count upon the willing support and
cooperation of Jordan in those matters which are of importance to both
of us in maintaining peace and stability in the Near East and elsewhere.
I take this opportunity, Your Majesty, to offer you
my best wishes and to express the hope that in your efforts to make
Jordan a model state you will enjoy complete success. I understand fully
the difficulties under which you and your Government labor, and I admire
the courage, the steadfastness, and the wisdom with which you are facing
those difficulties./2/
Sincerely yours,/3/
/1/Source: Kennedy Library,
President's Office Files, Countries, Jordan,
4/62-10/62. No classification marking. An
earlier draft of this letter was forwarded
to McGeorge Bundy on September 8 under cover
of a memorandum from Brubeck, which noted,
among other points, that Jordan's attitude
toward the Johnson Plan was of equal importance
to that of Israel and the United Arab Republic,
because more than half of the Palestinian
refugees resided in Jordan. It also noted
that the United States retained some leverage
with Jordan because of large-scale U.S. economic
assistance. A marginal notation on Brubeck's
memorandum indicates that the original of
the memorandum was directed to Feldman on
September 8. The attached draft letter shows
changes in Komer's handwriting. (Ibid.) The
text of the letter was transmitted to the
Embassy in Amman for delivery in telegram
116, September 14. (Department of State,
Central Files, 325.84/9-1462)
/2/In telegram 117 to Amman,
September 15, the Department of State instructed
the Embassy to deliver this letter and make
the presentation outlined in circular telegram
384 (Document 34). (Department of State,
Central Files, 325.84/9-1562) Macomber reported
on his meetings with King Hussein and other
Jordanian officials concerning the Jordan
Plan in telegrams 144 and 146 from Amman,
September 15 and 16. (Ibid., 325.84/9-1562
and 325.84/9-1662) On September 19, Prime
Minister Tell informed Macomber that the
Jordanian Cabinet had formally decided that
Jordan should not oppose the Johnson Plan
and that Jordan should use its influence
with other Arab states to persuade them "for
tactical reasons" to give the Johnson
Plan a chance. (Telegram 152 from Amman,
September 19; ibid., 325.84/9-1962)
/3/Printed from an unsigned
copy.
Sources: Foreign
Relations of the United States, 1961-1963: Near East, 1962-1963,
V. XVIII. DC: GPO,
2000. |