Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 1

262.84A41/4–452: Telegram

No. 419
The Secretary of State to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Bonn¹

confidential
priority

Washington, April 4, 1952—6:11 p.m.

2404. For McCloy to be delivered by 9 am. Re McCloy–Bruce telephone conversation today. Israel Amb addressed urgent personal ltr to Secy Apr 3² stating that ans which Ger Delegation will bring to The Hague upon their return from consultation in Bonn as to amt Ger will pay on Israel claim and time of payment will determine success or failure of conference and requesting US urge Gers make settlement.

Amb called at Dept today in amplification of ltr. Highlights of his remarks were: (1) decision of Israel Govt to enter into negots with Ger occasioned great bitterness and tension in Israel: if negots succeed, Govt will be vindicated, but if they fail situation will be serious; (2) Israel Delegation on Hague conference reports Ger Delegation not aware that US had officially informed Israel (in note from Dept of Jan 24)³ “US will await with sympathetic interest outcome of negotiations”; (3) chief concern of Israel is that Gers may return with small offer which for polit reasons Israel cld not possibly accept or ask for long recess: in latter connection, Amb stated that if Gers ask for recess corresponding to recess of London Debt Conference, Israel Govt wld regard this as confirmation of its suspicions that Gers are trying to dovetail Hague and London conferences.

Dept replied: (1) no reason believe Gers are not acting in good faith; (2) size of claims obviously makes it difficult for Gers quickly evolve settlement plan; (3) reasonable to expect Gers wld want time to examine claims in light other obligations, and US wld not want to press Gers into commitments which might increase Ger dependence on US aid; (4) US does not want conference to break up; US sincerely desires settlement satisfactory to both parties; (5) Dept hopes Israel can find way to give Gers adequate time fully explore this complicated problem; (6) Dept convinced there is no misapprehension in top circles of Ger Govt re US position.

Believe it desirable you shld inform Adenauer of serious polit difficulties confronting Israel Govt and that US considers it important that conference not be allowed to fail.

Gers shld recognize unfortunate repercussions which wld ensue if they now appear to have been insincere in their offer to negotiate. US shld not of course attempt tell Gers what shld be magnitude or type of their offer to Israeli and Jewish orgs.

Acheson

1. Repeated to London, Paris, and the Arab capitals.
2. Not printed.
3. The substantive portion of the note of Jan. 24 is quoted in Foreign Relations, 1951, vol. V, p. 1308, footnote 6.