Hussein I of Jordan KingKing Hussein Historic Letter on Gulf War to Philip Habib, Middle Eastern Envoy 1p typed letter signed by Hussein bin Talal, King of Jordan (1935-1999) as "Hussein" at lower center. Dated July 29, 1991. On cream stationery with a gilt embossed crown at top. Expected light paper folds. Several minor wrinkles and a small closed tear in the lower left corner. Else very good to near fine. 8.25" x 11.625". In full: "[handwritten] Dear Friend, [typed] I address this letter to Your Excellency as we continue to live the tragic outcome of the painful events that afflicted the Gulf region during the past year, resulting in much loss of life and property, untold damage to the political and socioeconomic progress of the Middle East, as well as serious degradation to the global environment. Among these tragic consequences was the misunderstanding to which Jordan's position on the Gulf Crisis and War was subjected, which, in turn, had an unfortunate effect on our relations with our long-time friends. Therefore, in order to clear the air once and for all and to remove this misunderstanding, we have prepared a White Paper clearly outlining Jordan's position from the outset of the Gulf Crisis and the development of this position as events unfolded. I am sending Your Excellency a copy of the White Paper, hoping that it may help in removing any blemish on the strong ties of mutual respect and constructive cooperation that have long existed between our two countries, and allowing us to resume the work of developing our relations in the services of our common principles and interests. I also take this opportunity to reassure Your Excellency of my sincere friendship and to send you my warm personal regards. [handwritten] I am Sir,Your sincere friend,[signed] Hussein [typed] The Honorable Philip C. Habib1608 Courtland RoadBelmont, CA 94002United States of America". In this letter to veteran American Foreign Service officer Philip Habib (1920-1992), King Hussein referred to "the misunderstanding to which Jordan's position on the Gulf Crisis and War was subjected". On the eve of the First Gulf War, Jordan had attempted to mediate the conflict which would later involve the United States. Jordan's willingness to play peacemaker, however, was misconstrued by the United States and other Arab countries as Iraqi partisanship. In retaliation, the United States cut off aid to Jordan. This step, along with sanctions imposed on Jordan's major trading partner Iraq, and an influx of Palestinian refugees from Kuwait into Jordan, greatly weakened the Jordanian economy. These were some of the "tragic consequences" that King Hussein referred to. King Hussein I and Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein were personal friends, and Jordan and Iraq had longstanding political and economic ties. So, when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and annexed it in early August 1990, King Hussein traveled to Baghdad to persuade Saddam Hussein to desist. The conditions underpinning Saddam Hussein's voluntary withdrawal from Kuwait were not met, despite King Hussein's best efforts; other Arab nations condemned Saddam Hussein's acts, and foreign powers massed on Iraq's borders. King Hussein continued mediating throughout August and September, though war was now unavoidable. His official stance against Iraq hardened in December. By February 1991, Iraqi forces had been expelled from Kuwait. This letter dating from July 1991 attempted to correct the record as far as Jordan was concerned. Jordan was issuing White Papers, or authoritative government documents, explaining its stance before, during, and after the First Gulf War. Jordan's reputation was restored to such an extent that the West and other Arab countries relied on the nation to play a leading role in guiding Palestine at the Madrid Peace Conference in late October 1991. Career diplomat Philip Habib had joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1949; he served in South Korea, South Vietnam, the Philippines, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Canada, and New Zealand. Habib's diplomatic experience in the Middle East was also considerable. As Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Habib had worked with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1977, and his negotiations paved the way for Jimmy Carter's Camp David Accords. Later, as President Reagan's Special Envoy in 1982, Habib's efforts at negotiating the peaceful withdrawal of the Palestinian Liberation Organization from Beirut, Lebanon had led to his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. The New York Times eulogized Habib as "the outstanding professional diplomat of his generation in the United States." Hussein I ascended the Jordanian throne at age 17 in 1952, and ruled until his death in 1999.