The struggle for sovereignty: relations between Great Britain and Jordan, 1946-1951

Abstract

Part I: The Way to Independence Anglo-Transjordan Relations 1920-1946. Creating Transjordan. The First Years of the Principality. Suppressed Ambitions. Problems in Palestine. The Second World War. Abdullah's Efforts to Accomplish Greater Syria and Transjordanian Independence. The Implications of the Second World War on British Policy in the Middle East. TransJordanian Independence and the Anglo-Transjordan Treaty of 1946. Part II: From Independence to War 1946-1948. 1. Britain's Post-War Policy and its Influence on Transjordan. Britain Abandons Position in the Mediterranean. Britain's Decision to Leave Palestine. Abdullah's Regional Policies. 2. The Path to the 1948 War. Abdullah's Plan to Intervene in Palestine and to Expand Transjordan. The 1948 War's Prelude Abdullah Clears the Way to Expand Transjordan. The Bevin-Abulhuda Meeting. The Anglo-Transjordan Treaty of 1948. Final Political Preparations Before the War. Part III: War in Palestine. 1. Britain and the Arab Legion Before the 1948 War. Reorganization Before and During the Second World War. The Arrival of New British Officers. The Arab Legion Before the 1948 War. British Arms Supply to the Legion. 2. The Role of British Officers in the Arab Legion During the 1948 War. The Arab Legion Enters Palestine. The Battle of Jerusalem. The Withdrawal of British Officers and the British Embargo on Arms. The Ten Days Fighting. The British Officers' Conduct of War. Conceptions and Misperceptions. Part IV: The End of the War. 1. British Military Assistance to Transjordan in Case of an Israeli Attack. The Question of Implementing the Anglo-Transjordan Treaty. Debating the Question of British Military Assistance to Transjordan. Britain Prepares Military Assistance to Transjordan. The Negev and Aqaba. The Last Accord. 2. The Negotiations Between Transjordan and Israel as a Test. Case of Transjordan's Sovereignty. Renewal of Negotiations: June-November 1948. Towards and Armistice Agreement: November 1948 - April 1949. Abdullah Attempts to Achieve Legitimacy in Arab Palestine. Britain Changes its Policy: November-December 1948. Negotiations and Ultimatum: December 1948. Renewal of Direct Meetings Between the King and the Israelis. The Border in Samaria. Part V: End of an Era, 1949-1951. 1. Annexation of the West Bank and Post-War Political, Military, and Economical Implications. Timing the Annexation the British Perspective. Military Implications of Annexation in Light of the Anglo-Transjordan Treaty. The Annexation of the West Bank. Political Implications of the Annexation to the Anglo-Jordanian Relations. Jordan's Economic Problem. Greater Syria. Union with Iraq. 2. The British Assistance to the Legion. British Military Plans for the Reorganization of the Arab Legion. The British Subsidy for 1949/50 and the Question of Expanding or Reducing the Size of the Arab Legion. Renewal of Arms Deliveries. (Part Contents).