Office of the Historian

239. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations1

Washington, October 5, 1965, 7:12 p.m.

759. Re USUN 1091,2 we assume “memorandum of Permrep PLO” is opening move in effort to gain UN recognition of PLO. We realize we have little leverage with Arabs on this issue, but we think it might be useful to point out to more moderate Arab dels that procedure on this question in past several years has been satisfactory to Arabs and that we hope they will agree to its continuance at this session. If they insist upon specific recognition of PLO, they should realize this might lead to nasty floor fight which may not necessarily come out to their advantage.

Mission might wish to tell Israelis we are, in response to Amb Harman’s request, (Deptel 371)3 trying to head off Arab campaign for greater recognition of PLO.

Ball
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, POL 3 PAL ENTITY. Confidential. Drafted by Campbell, cleared by UNP Deputy Director Jonathan Dean and in substance by Wolle, and approved by William B. Buffum. Repeated to Tel Aviv.↩
  2. Dated October 4. (Ibid., ARAB–ISR)↩
  3. Telegram 371 to USUN, September 2, summarized a conversation between Harman and Sisco. (Ibid., REF 3 UNRWA)↩