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Treaty of Alliance between Great Britain and Transjordan, 1948

Treaty of Alliance

between his Majesty in Respect of the United Kingdom

and his Majesty the King of the Hashimite Kingdom of TransJordan

(Ratifications exchanged in London, 30 April 1948)

Amman, 15 March 1948

His Majesty The King of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas and His Majesty the King of the Hashimite Kingdom of Transjordan;

Animated by the most sincere desire to consolidate the friendship and good relations which exist between them and to establish these relations on the foundations best calculated to ensure the development of this friendship; Desiring to conclude a new Treaty of Alliance with these objects and in order to strengthen by co-operation and mutual assistance the contribution which each of them will be able to make to the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the provisions and principles of the Charter of the United Nations: (1)

have accordingly appointed as their Plenipotentiaries,

His Majesty The King of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas (hereinafter referred to as His Britannic Majesty):

for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

Sir Alec Seath Kirkbride, C.M.G., O.B.E., M.C., his Envoy Extra-ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.

His Majesty the King of the Hashimite Kingdom of Transjordan:

His Excellency Tewfiq Pasha Abul Huda, Jewelled Order of the Nahda, First Class Order of the Istiqlal, Prime Minister.

His Excellency Fauzi Pasha el Mulki, Second Class Order of the Istiqlal, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

who having exhibited their full powers found in good and due form have agreed as follows:-

ARTICLE 1

There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between His Britannic Majesty and His Majesty the King of the Hashimite Kingdom of Transjordan.

A close alliance shall continue between the High Contracting Parties in consecration of their friendship, their cordial understanding and their good. relations.

Each of the High Contracting Parties undertakes not to adopt in regard to foreign countries an attitude, which is inconsistent with the Alliance or might create difficulties for the other party thereto.

ARTICLE 2

Should any dispute between either High Contracting Party and a third State produce a situation which would involve the risk of a rupture with that State, the High Contracting Parties will concert together with a view to the settlement of the said dispute by peaceful means in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and of any other inter-national obligations which may be applicable to the case.

ARTICLE 3

Should either High Contracting Party notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2 become engaged in war, the other High Contracting Party will, subject always to the provisions of Article 4 immediately come to his aid as a measure of collective defence.

In the event of an imminent menace of hostilities the High Contracting Parties will immediately concert together the necessary measures of defence.

ARTICLE 4

Nothing in the present Treaty is intended to, or shall in any way prejudice the rights and obligations which devolve, or may devolve, upon either of the High Contracting Parties under the Charter of the United Nations or under any other existing international agreements, conventions or treaties.

ARTICLE 5

The present Treaty of which the Annex is an integral part shall replace the Treaty of Alliance signed in London on 22nd March, 1946, of the Christian Era, (2) together with its Annex and all Letters and Notes, interpreting or otherwise exchanged in 1946 in connexion therewith, provided however that Article 9 of the said Treaty shall remain in force in accordance with and as modified by the notes exchanged on this day on this subject.

ARTICLE 6

Should any difference arise relative to the application or interpretation of the present Treaty and should the High Contracting Parties fail to settle such difference by direct negotiations, it shall be referred to the International Court of Justice unless the parties agree to another mode of settlement.

ARTICLE 7

The present Treaty shall be ratified and shall come into force upon the exchange of instruments of ratification which shall take place at London as soon as possible. It shall remain in force for a period of 20 years from the date of its coming into force. At any time after 15 years from the date of the coming into force of the present Treaty, the High Contracting Parties will at the request of either of them, negotiate a revised Treaty which shall provide for the continued co-operation of the High Contracting Parties in the defence of their common interests. The period of 15 years shall be reduced if a complete system of security agreements under Article 43 of the Charter of the United Nations is concluded before the expiry of this period. At the end of 20 years, if the present Treaty has not been revised, it shall remain in force until the expiry of one year after notice of termination has been given by either High Contracting Party to the other through the diplomatic channel.

In witness whereof the above-named plenipotentiaries have signed the present Treaty and affixed thereto their seals.

Done in duplicate at Amman, this 15th day of March, 1948, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authentic.

(L.S.)                          A. S. KIRKBRIDE.

(L.S.)                   TEWFIQ ABUL HUDA.

(L.S.)                          FAUZI EL MULKI.

 

Annex

ARTICLE 1

(a) The High Contracting Parties recognise that, in the common interests of both, each of them must be in a position to discharge his obligations under Article 3 of the Treaty.

(b) In the event of either High Contracting Party becoming engaged in war, or of a menace of hostilities, each High Contracting Party will invite the other to bring to his territory or territory controlled by him the necessary forces of all arms. Each will furnish to the other all the facilities and assistance in his power, including the use of all means and lines of communication, and on financial terms to be agreed upon.

(c) His Majesty the King of the Hashimite Kingdom of Transjordan will safeguard, maintain and develop as necessary the airfields, ports, roads and other means and lines of communication in and across the Hashimite Kingdom of Transjordan as may be required for the purposes of the present Treaty and its annex and will call upon His Britannic Majesty's assistance as may be required for this purpose.

(d) Until such time as the High Contracting Parties agree that the state of world security renders such measures unnecessary, His Majesty the King of the Hashimite Kingdom of Transjordan invites His Britannic Majesty to maintain units of the Royal Air Force at Amman and Mafrak airfields. His Majesty the King of the Hashimite Kingdom of Transjordan will provide all the necessary facilities for the accommodation and main-tenance of the units mentioned in this paragraph, including facilities for the storage of their ammunition and supplies and the lease of any land required.

[…]

 

Source: Treaty of Alliance between His Majesty in respect of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and His Majesty the King of the Hashimite Kingdom of Transjordan [with Exchanges of Letters]. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1948.