Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/5–2348: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Egypt

secret   us urgent
niact
Washington, May 23, 1948—6 p. m.

641. Jerusalem’s 716 May 231 reports that at 2045 local time official representatives of Jewish Agency informed Consulate General that Provisional Govt of Israel, in compliance with resolution adopted by [Page 1034] SC yesterday, was prepared to observe cease-fire in all of Palestine, including Jerusalem, from 2000 hours “Jewish local time”, which we take to be 12 noon EST. This would be in strict compliance with 36 hour cease-fire order of SC. Jewish readiness to observe cease-fire would be conditional upon similar Arab compliance, and could be effected earlier if Arabs willing.

Please call immediately upon FonMin or head of State, in your discretion, and state that this Govt is gravely disturbed at present course of developments in Palestine and hopes that Govt to which you are accredited will, as fellow member of UN, cooperate by compliance with SC cease-fire of May 22.2

Sent for action to Cairo 641; Damascus 188; Beirut 260; Jidda 194; Baghdad 166; Jerusalem 457; and for info to London 1878; Paris 1777; Brussels 775; USUN 319.

Marshall
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. The Department, on May 24, directed Jerusalem to “ascertain from appropriate Jewish authorities whether order includes all Israel forces and has been agreed to by IZL and Stern.” (Telegram 460, 867N.01/5–2348)

    Jerusalem advised, on May 25, of information from a spokesman for the Jewish Agency that the cease-fire order included all Israeli forces, including IZL and Stern, and that both organizations “definitely accepted authority of Haganah”. Vice Consul Burdett gave it as his opinion that their complete obedience to the Haganah command was still questionable (telegram 740, 867N.01/5–2548).

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