King Abdullah of Transjordan was today reported to have rejected a suggestion made to him yesterday that he enter into direct peace ##egotiations with Israel. The suggestion was advanced by Claude de Boisanger, chairman of the United Nations Palestine Conciliation Commission, who is expected to return tonight to Israel from his visit to Amman, capital of Transjordan.Yesterday’s elections in Transjordan and the Arab part of Palestine passed quietly, according to a broadcast today from the Transjordan-controlled radio station at Ramallah. The broadcast said that 75 percent of all eligible voters cast ##allots. However, the Beirut radio reported that only 35 percent participated in the elections, and a Cairo radio said that known supporters of the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem and Communists were arrested before they could vote.It was expected that following the elections, King Abdullah would resume the ?nofficial peace talks that have been going on between Transjordan and Israel Comm##ome tims. However, in his reply yesterday to the chairman of the Conciliation Commission, the ruler of Transjordan said that in view of the recent decisions of the Arab League which provides that no Arab countries should negotiate peace individually with Israel, he prefers to have the Jewish state conduct direct negotiations jointly with all the Arab states.
King Abdullah will open the new parliament on May 1. It is expected that in this speech he will make special reference to the incorporation of the Arab part of Palestine into Transjordan. Meanwhile, the Beirut radio reported today that former Transjordan Minister of Interior Suid Pasha el Mufti has been asked by the King to form a new Cabinet to include five Transjordanians and five Palestine Arabs. The Political Committee of the Arab League last night denounced as “illegal” the intention of Transjordan to take over the Arab part of Palestine.
Israel political circles are of the opinion that the Arab League’s recent attack on Abdullah was occasioned by the growing influence of certain circles in Damas?us, Cairo and Beirut which favor an early settlement with Israel and which would be given a tremendous impetus by an Israel-Transjordan pact.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
