Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V, Part 2

867N.01/5–1048: Telegram

The Consul at Jerusalem (Wasson) to the Secretary of State

confidential   niact
urgent

Jerusalem, May 10, 1948—noon.

582. High Commissioner handed me morning of May 10 the propounded terms of a truce for Jerusalem which Palestine Government is communicating to both the Jews and the Arabs.¹ Text of terms follow:

1. In this memorandum the word “Jerusalem” means the town planning area of Jerusalem.

2. All hostilities within Jerusalem shall cease. No fire shall be directed into Jerusalem or from it.

3. No arms or warlike stores shall be permitted to enter Jerusalem.

4. Supplies essential to the civil life of the population of Jerusalem shall be allowed to be brought to Jerusalem subject to check by an impartial body acceptable to both Arabs and Jews which will ensure that supplies other than such essential supplies do not pass into Jerusalem.

5. At least one of the following routes shall be open for the transport to Jerusalem of essential supplies (subject to such control) from each of the places where they are available and for the movement of unarmed persons from the place where they may be, that is to say, the Tel Aviv–Jerusalem road via Bab el Wad when possible or Ramallah, and the main roads leading to Jerusalem via Ramallah, Jericho and Bethlehem; provided that no movement shall take place leading to any substantial increase in the Arab or Jewish population of Jerusalem or any exchange of population calculated to increase Arab or Jewish military strength in Jerusalem.

6. Jews, whether living within or without the Old City, shall have the right of free entry and exit to the Jewish quarter of the Old City and from there to the Wailing Wall. Such entry and exit shall be effected through the Zion gate. For the purpose of ensuring that no arms are taken into the Old City, control shall be established at a point outside the Zion gate by the impartial body referred to in Paragraph Four.

7. Jews shall evacuate the Arab quarters of Qatamon now occupied by them.

8. Any dispute concerning the meaning or application of these terms (including the interpretation of the term “essential supplies”) shall be decided by the impartial body referred to in Paragraph 4.

Wasson

1. The High Commissioner, on May 7, met at Jericho with Azzam Pasha and other Arab representatives in order to obtain a cease-fire for Jerusalem. The communiqué issued by the Palestine Government noted that “The Arab League representatives agreed to maintain the cease-fire in Jerusalem as from 12 noon tomorrow on the understanding that the Jews also abstain from firing.” (Telegram 558, May 7, from Jerusalem, 867N.01/5–748)

   The High Commissioner informed the Truce Commission on May 9 that the Jewish delegation had not appeared for talks scheduled for that morning. Bad flying weather was the reason given by the Jews for their nonappearance; but Consul Wasson understood that they “resented keenly not having been brought into cease-fire discussion prior to issuance official communiqué re Jericho talks.” (Telegram 570, May 10, 10 a. m., from Jerusalem, 867N.01/5–1048)