Your Majesty:1 During your recent visit to Washington we discussed a wide range of subjects relating to the Middle East.2 We also agreed that, as future circumstances might require, we would communicate with each other regarding matters of importance. One of these matters--the question of Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the area of the Straits of Aqaba--has come to the fore in the United Nations since your departure.3
Accordingly, we have been giving fresh consideration to this important matter. Our ideas have been discussed with the Secretary General of the United Nations, and are known to the representatives of Egypt and of Israel. The subject also has been discussed recently with Your Majesty's Deputy Foreign Minister and Ambassador.4
Current press accounts have been misleading, and to avoid any misunderstandings I want to reassure Your Majesty concerning our attitude. We stand first and foremost in favor of immediate Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the Straits of Aqaba. Our efforts are designed to achieve this end and to do so urgently. Also we do not think that Israel should gain advantages from its invasion or that Egypt should have to make fresh promises to Israel to assure Israeli withdrawal.
At the same time, as was indicated to Your Majesty in Washington, we hold and have always held that the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba have an international character. We understand that this view is shared by Egypt as indicated in the Egyptian Government's memorandum in 1950 to the American Ambassador wherein it stated that the Egyptian occupation of the two islands, Tiran and Sanafir, at the entrance of the Gulf of Aqaba was only to protect the islands themselves against possible damage or violation and that "this occupation being in no way conceived in a spirit of obstructing in any way the innocent passage through the stretch of water separating these two islands from the Egyptian coast of Sinai, it follows that this passage, the only practicable one, will remain free as in the past, in conformity with international practice and recognized principles of the law of nations."5
In all of our consideration and discussions of this matter we have emphasized that in the use of this passage by any nations, it is of utmost importance that there should be fully respected the passage of pilgrims on religious missions.
It is our belief that the United Nations General Assembly has no authority to require either of Egypt or of Israel a substantial modification of the Armistice Agreement, which now gives Egypt the right and responsibility of occupation of the Gaza strip. Accordingly, we believe that Israeli withdrawal from there should be prompt and unconditional, leaving the future of the Gaza strip to be worked out through the efforts and good offices of the United Nations. We believe that the United Nations General Assembly and the Secretary General should seek that the United Nations Emergency Force, in exercise of its mission, move into the area and be on the boundary between Israel and the Gaza strip. The United States will use its efforts to assure these results, which we believe are contemplated by the two General Assembly resolutions of February 2, 1957.6
Our discussions subsequent to your departure have reflected no change in the position taken here with Your Majesty, although a contrary impression undoubtedly has been given in erroneous press stories.7 Stated simply, we believe that Israel should immediately withdraw in accordance with the United Nations resolutions, after which we believe that the rules of international law should apply to the shipping of all nations in the Gulf of Aqaba. Of course, as to this, we would consider any decision of the International Court of Justice to be binding, if such a decision is involved. Thus we believe that Israel would obtain no rights or privileges to which it is not entitled by international law.
I am communicating with you on this important matter in furtherance of my desire to consult with you on problems of mutual interest and in the light of full and frank discussions which we had. These discussions were a source of great pleasure and profit to me. Privately and officially I value highly the friendship that we established.8
I hope that Your Majesty is well and is enjoying the visits to other friendly countries enroute to your kingdom.9 Sincerely
