8901.001/7–549: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Legation in Jordan
117. Dept has given careful consideration suggestion contained urtel 274, July 51 re visit Abdullah US but feels present uncertainties Lausanne negots and necessity US impartiality in exertion of pressure on both sides to reach agreement renders planning such visit difficult this stage.
[Page 1285]Furthermore Presidential sched so crowded that visit most difficult arrange. If and when invitation extended might be desirable shld King proceed from Amman direct to US rather than via England. Therefore fact of King’s visit to England not necessarily controlling as to time of visit.
- Not printed; it stated that the British Government had invited King Abdullah to visit in August and queried whether the Department would consider inviting him to visit the United States following completion of that trip (890i.00/7–549). Mr. Stabler, in a letter of February 19 to Mr. Rockwell, had raised the question of a royal visit to the United States. Mr. Rockwell’s response of March 16, initialed by Mr. Satterthwaite, stated “we believe the idea merits sympathetic consideration but feel that nothing whatsoever could be done about it before a settlement is reached in Palestine.” Both letters are filed under 890i.001/2–1949.↩