Acting Secretary of State George W. Ball this weekend called in Israel Ambassador Avraham Harman for what was described as an opportunity to express condolences on the death of President Ben-Zvi, but which actually involved a discussion of regional developments including events in Jordan.
The Washington Post today reported that the question of how Israel would react if King Hussein’s Government in Jordan is seriously endangered is a matter of prime interest to the United States. The newspaper said “the uncertain situation in Jordan was being watched with special attention by the White House and the State Department” this weekend. Specialists on the area engaged in a series of conferences.
The United States Government is “deeply concerned” over missile development in the Middle East, the State Department said yesterday, adding that the Department was “watching the situation” and discussing the problem “with the parties concerned. ” The statement was made by Frederick G. Dutton, Assistant Secretary of State, in a letter to Rep. Samuel S. Stratton, New York Democrat.
Rep. Stratton sent telegrams to the State and Defense Departments, protesting the work of West German scientists on advanced weapons development in Egypt. He asked both departments to “suggest possible American courses of action to prevent these developments. ” Mr. Dutton also told the Congressman that the State Department did not feel that the United Arab Republic program of producing jet aircraft would necessarily affect the security of the Middle East.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
