501.BB Palestine/12–2448
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of United
Nations Affairs (Rush) to the Acting Secretary of State
secret
[Washington,] December 24, 1948.
We have spoken with Ralph Bunche, the Acting Palestine Mediator, by
telephone, who says that reports from General Riley and his Deputy,
Vigier, from Palestine, although of a preliminary nature, do confirm
that Israel has resumed hostilities against Egypt, thus violating once
more the Security Council’s truce resolutions. Bunche is officially
communicating these facts to the President of the Security Council,
which will meet on Monday, December 27, at the request of Egypt.
In light of McDonald’s recent telegrams to Mr. Clifford it would seem
useful to make an immediate representation in Tel Aviv couched in fairly
strong terms. To balance this it would seem useful also to make
representations in Cairo, since the Egyptians have not thus far complied
with the Security Council’s resolution of November 16, which calls on
the parties to negotiate an armistice.1
[Page 1690]
[Annex 1]
Draft Telegram by the Acting
Secretary of State to the Special Representative of
the United States in Israel (McDonald)2
secret
us urgent
niact
Washington, [undated.]
Your 323, Dec. 20, and 333, Dec. 22,3 have been discussed with President
who very much hopes that reports will yet prove untrue that Israel
has resumed, military operations in Palestine. However, preliminary
info received by Acting Mediator is to effect that PGI has in fact resumed hostilities.
Obviously renewed resort to warfare would have to be taken into
consideration by Ex-Im Bank in dealing with Israeli request for
loan.
This resort to open hostilities if officially confirmed, despite SG
truce resolutions, including that of Nov. 16, and despite GA resolution establishing machinery for
final peaceful settlement, does not seem in accord with written
assurances given SC by FonMin Shertok
on Nov. 29 requesting admission of Israel as member of UN in
accordance with Art. 4 of the Charter and giving official
declaration that Israel “unreservedly accepts the obligations of the
United Nations Charter and undertakes to honour them from the day
when it becomes a member of the United Nations”.
Please officially communicate these views to Ben Gurion and Shertok.
You should add that this Govt would much regret if action by Israel
in resorting to open warfare in violation of SC truce resolution should indicate that it is not a
peace-loving state. Under such circumstances this Govt would be
forced to review its position as a supporter of Israel’s application
for membership in UN. This Govt profoundly hopes that such a
contingency will not arise and trusts that statesmanship of Israeli
leaders will again be evidenced in a prompt decision to cease
hostilities and to utilize facilities afforded by SC, and GA resolution of Dec. 11, to reach a lasting peaceful
settlement. This Govt stands ready to assist Israel in every
appropriate way, both as a friendly Power and as a member of
Palestine Conciliation Commission, to achieve this end.
Foregoing representation must be made within next twelve hours.
Telegraph report of your interview.
Repeated to Paris as ———, eyes only for Jessup.
Repeated to London for info only as———.
[Page 1691]
[Annex 2]
Draft Telegram by the Acting
Secretary of State to the Embassy
in Egypt
secret
us urgent
niact
Washington, [undated.]
Please seek immediate audience with King Farouk and say that your
Govt, motivated by its long-standing friendship with Egypt, desires
to suggest that Egypt would be in a better position in bringing
present alleged Palestine truce violation before SC if Egyptian Govt did in fact now
fulfill its obligation under SC
resolution of Nov. 16, which called upon parties directly involved
in conflict in Palestine to seek agreement forthwith by negotiations
conducted directly or through Acting Mediator with view to immediate
establishment of armistice. You should add that we hope Egypt will
take no action which would contribute to continuation of
hostilities.
This representation should be made within next twelve hours.
Repeated for info to London as ———, Paris as ——— for Jessup.
