Page:Ford, Kissinger, Jordanian King Hussein - August 16, 1974(Gerald Ford Library)(1552753).pdf/17

-17- on one hand and law-and-order on the other. There were Jordanians and Palestinians on both sides of the issue.


 * Our sense of the issue, Mr. President, is that His Majesty could and would have wide support for his position. If we can get some progress then the question will become a debate among the Arab states with His Majesty in a strong position. Traditional support already exists for his views and would probably then increase.


 * I approach this question, sir, with a high degree of confidence and am prepared to see the exercise of self-determination for the Palestinians fully free from outside pressures. This would happen after Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and could not take place except under international supervision -- I specifically exclude Arab supervision.


 * Your Majesty, do you feel confident you will be able to keep the West Bank under those conditions?


 * Yes, but the options are really there as far as I am concerned. They can have independence if they want it -- there would be two states -- or unification with Jordan, or federation. We would want some form of international supervision of the choice.


 * United Nations supervision.


 * Certainly not the Arabs, that would really guarantee the imposition of a position on the West Bank.


 * Do you receive any information that there was a consolidation of Palestinian leadership taking place?