501.BB Palestine/6–448: Telegram
The Chargé in Egypt (Patterson) to the Secretary of State
most immediate
niact
675. At 3:30 p. m. today I informed Count Bernadotte content Department’s 712 June 3 in course of call at his hotel. He took due note of substance of paragraph one, which I repeated to him, and stated Americans and Belgians having accepted to supply observers with response being now awaited from French, there would be no need to look elsewhere. Bernadotte hoped for some British equipment and interestingly added that Nokrashy Pasha had urged him endeavor obtain British naval vessels to patrol coasts.
Department’s assent appointment Swedish deputy and other supervisors of observer corps much appreciated. Bernadotte has been in provisional touch with Stockholm on subject, and finds Swedish Government willing cooperate. Both Bernadotte and Bunche, who had yesterday flown Amman and Haifa but not Beirut, stated immigration men of military age seemed sole serious obstacle in way of Arab and Jewish agreement on truce. They had conferred at Haifa with Moshe Shertok such length as to have been unable visit Beirut. Bernadotte is telegraphing UN on subject desired clarification SC’s intent,1 while Bunche is telegraphing Reedman, UN agent Haifa, to work on Shertok to agree self-limitation immigration men of military age while preserving principle of immigration. Bunche expressed hope Department might use its influence in bringing about reasonable interpretation phrase in dispute.
Bernadotte stated he had overcome Arab objections to provisioning of Jerusalem by pointing out unless supply of city were permitted its position would deteriorate during four weeks truce period, and so not represent maintenance of desired standstill in military potential.
Sent Department 675, repeated London 54, Paris 49, Jerusalem 74, Brussels unnumbered. Pouched Arab capitals.
- His message, dated June 4, stated that the question of immigration into Palestine was the sole obstruction to agreement on an effective truce date. It then raised these questions: “Does resolution envisage that men of military age may be brought in Jewish area Palestine during period truce provided they are not mobilized or submitted to training? Is resolution permissive this regard or does resolution seek exclusion all men military age?”; for full text of message, see SC, 3rd yr., Supplement for June 1948, p. 77.↩