Editorial Note

On September 29, the Chargé in Iraq (Dorsz), in airgram A–318, reported the substance of remarks made to him by the Syrian Chargé on September 24, as follows: “So far as the Syrians and the rest of the Arab world are concerned, the statement made by the Iraqi Regent, H.R.H. Abdul Ilah, about ten days earlier to the effect that Iraq took [Page 759] a neutral position in the Greater Syria agitation was a matter of historical significance. This was the first time that the Iraqi Regent had dared to express publicly views which ran counter to those of his uncle, King Abdullah of Transjordan. The Syrians were delighted and particularly grateful to the Iraqi Prime Minister, His Excellency Saleh Jabur, who the Syrians believe was instrumental in arranging for issuance of the statement.” (890D.00/9–2947)

In telegram 406, September 29, the Consulate General in Jerusalem reported information from the Under Secretary of the Transjordanian Foreign Office five days earlier that “King Abdullah has agreed to participate no further for present in Greater Syria controversy.” (890D.00/9–2947)

King Ibn Saud continued to be concerned by the Greater Syria problem. For his views on the matter later in 1947 and the reaction of the United States, see pages 738741.