6FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1949, VOLUME VI


Office telegraphed Kirkbride 5 to tell Abdullah that it still considered
its advice (paragraph 1 above) sound. In view HMG, Abdullah would
be courting difficulties if he should continue to negotiate with PGJ
while Israeli forces still in Egypt. However, 11MG 'aware serious
responsibility iivolved for UK if it should advise Abdullah to refrain
from any negotiations which Abdullah wished to undertake. Con-
sequently, although 1HMG still hoped King would be able to "spin
out" negotiations until CC arrives, Kirkbride "should not try to
re-
strain Abdullah from any course !of action upon which Abdullah
decides in ifull knowledge facts."
   3. In same instruction Kirkbride was told to make clear that if
Abdullah, acting upon Jericho resolution accepts formal union be-
tween Palestine and Transjordan without limiting this to Arab areas
Palestine, UK would have to make clear that it does not recognize and
cannot support any claims by Abdullah to areas which may be in-
corporated into Jewish state.
  4. Burrows said that foregoing means Abdullah is free to act as he
thinks best regarding negotiations and that he is not under any UK
restraint.
   5. Burrows said Foreign -Office has just received-report of January 1
meeting Jerusalem between Abdullah Tel for Abdullah and PGI
representatives. ,Meeting "went rather well." Israelis insisted
confin-
ing "armistice" talks to Arab Legion area only and listed as points
of iinterest to PGI access northern potash works and suggested re-
starting southern plant for which water would have to come from
Transjordan.
  Israelis suggested that boundaries should be defined between Arab
Legion and 'Israeli< forces, that prisoners should be exchanged and
'organization set up to handle claims. Israelis favored dividing Jerusa-
lem and Tel replied thismight be acceptable if Arab part Jerusalem
included Arab quarters outside old city. Tel mentioned among Arab
points of interest return Arabs of Lydda, Ramallah and Jaffa, and
suggested he would like to discuss future of Galilee. Israelis made no
comment.
  6. Burrows asked classification should be observed regarding para-
graph 5 above "since Abdullah is negotiating without knowledge
Transjordan government" and should be protected from leaks.
  7. Burrows commented that UK is pleased talks are continuing and
that there have been "no more ultimata." He thought it obvious
that
while talks are technically concerned with armistice, they have already

  Sir Alec S. Kirkbride, British Minister in Transjordan.


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