501.BB Palestine/11–2948: Telegram
The Acting Chairman of United States Delegation at Paris (Dulles) to the Secretary of State
priority
Delga 1001. 1. Initial Arab reactions to Israeli application for UN membership1 reflect considerable anger, disappointment and further disillusionment in US and UN in spite of counter-arguments advanced by us.
[Page 1636]2. In general Arab representatives here believe that Israeli application now is most untimely and will have undesirable effect on effort moderates to achieve or go along with solution of Palestine question. They feel US bears a responsibility because of our strong espousal in spite of our pointing out that Israel made own decision to apply.
[Here follow specific comments by members of Arab Delegations.]
4. Virtually all Arabs unable understand how state with undefined boundaries whose government is recognized by only 17 nations can apply for admission with reasonable prospect of favorable action on its application. No Arab has, however, today alluded to possibility of Arab withdrawal from UN in event Israel elected.
5. Difficult at moment to appraise what effect admission Israel this session will have on efforts to secure peaceful settlement Palestine question. Arabs have injured feelings, probably due to fact they have cooperated pretty well with us on questions major political importance in contrast to their abstention policy last year. How far US can go in support Israel’s aspirations in and out UN in forthcoming years while not taking into account numerous legitimate arguments advanced by Near Eastern countries serious question. If policy of cooperation with US on major political questions espoused by certain Arab leaders, some of whom are here, bears no fruit where their specific interests Are concerned, position of those leaders likely to become increasingly untenable.
6. Have discussed this with Rusk who believes we must strongly support Israel membership, but hopes Department can find ways and means of seizing this opportunity to demonstrate our interest in Arab world on other matters. He specifically referred to interest expressed by President last spring in getting on with Tigris–Euphrates Valley development and other similar projects in other Arab countries. Rusk stated he was convinced Arab world is ripe now for major effort our part to re-establish friendly relations despite existence of one question on which they feel most bitter.
Department may desire to repeat to Arab capitals.
Sent Department Delga 1001; repeated London 1392 for Satterthwaite from Kopper—limited distribution.
- For Mr. Shertok’s letter of November 29 to the Secretary-General of the United Nations making such application, see SC, 3rd yr., Supplement for December 1948, p. 118.↩