The French weekly “L’Express” published today the texts of three top secret letters said to have been written by Jordanian officials in Oct. 1967 which, the magazine says, establish that “secret agreements” exist between Israel and Jordan and that their respective representatives met several times.
“L’Express” stated that the documents prove that the day after the Six-Day War, Jordan chose to practice a dual policy towards Israel–outwardly, solidarity with the other Arab states, but covertly, a policy of negotiations with Israel. The magazine published photo copies of the three letters. The first, marked “confidential and urgent” is dated Oct. 11, 1967 and was addressed to the Jordanian Ambassador in Washington from Premier Baghat Talhouni.
It reads: “Will you establish urgent contacts with United States Secretary of State Dean Rusk to discuss pressure to be put on the Israeli government to renounce its policy of creation of a Palestinian state in which Palestinian deputies and notables of the West Bank would participate. Let Dean Rusk know that if Israel persists in this project we will be obliged to annul the secret and non-secret agreements which tie us to Israel, and, to assure our rights, cooperate with the Arab states and the Eastern European bloc.”
‘EXPLICIT PROOF’ OF ‘COLLUSION’
The next letter, marked “secret and urgent” was dated Oct. 10, 1967 and was from Talhouni to the Jordanian Ambassador in Rome. It says: “In reference to what was published in the Rome ‘Daily American’ (Rome’s English language newspaper) I pray you to establish contact in a very confidential manner with the Italian Minister of Information to convince him to induce the Italian press to refrain from publishing anything about the secret encounters between the King of Jordan and representatives of Israeli authorities.
“Also establish contact with the directors of the large Italian newspapers…to deny the information in any manner possible, even if it would cost 5000 dinars.” The letter further asked the Jordanian Ambassador in Rome to convince the Israeli Ambassador “to deny what was published in the ‘Daily American’ about the encounter between the King’s envoy and Israeli Premier Levi Eshkol.”
Talhouni also instructed the Ambassador to inform the Israeli Ambassador that Jordan’s foreign policy will not be affected by the new Jordanian government and that “the secret agreements concluded with Israel are still in effect.”
The third letter published by “L’ Express” was stamped “Very Secret” and was written on Oct. 4, 1967 by the Jordanian Foreign Minister, Choukry el-Mohtady to the Jordanian Ambassador in Rome. It said: “In response to your letter number 27/172 of Oct. 1, 1967, I wish to inform you that the letter was transmitted to His Majesty, the King. The King gave the following directive: Establish urgent contact with the British Foreign Affairs Minister in reference to the Jordanian government’s acceptance of direct negotiations with Israeli authorities.”
According to “L’Express,” the letters provide “explicit proof” of Israeli-Jordanian “collusion” not only by “intention” but “in fact” behind the smokescreen of indignant denials.
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.
