501.BB Palestine/6–2548: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Jerusalem
658. For Macdonald.1 As US member of Truce Commission we feel that you should indicate to Count Bernadotte our profound gratification at success which has thus far attended his efforts in maintaining the truce and cease-fire which are due to end on July 9. At same time, as US member of Truce Commission, you should contrive to make it clear to both Arabs and Jews that we are equally gratified by statesmanship and self-restraint which they have exhibited under conditions where such self-discipline was most difficult to apply.
We do not wish to intervene with unnecessary advice in a situation which is maturing delicately and slowly. However, it seems obvious that it will be necessary to extend truce and cease-fire arrangement for a longer period than the original 4-weeks ordered by the SC. You should prepare as a member of Truce Commission to exert every effort in assisting Mediator should he so desire to extend truce and cease-fire, expressing confident hope of this govt that to refrain from reengaging in hostilities will eventually make it possible for both Arabs and Jews to develop a lasting and peaceful arrangement for mutual accommodation in regard to Palestine.2
Repeated to USUN as 431 with request this message be transmitted for info to Count Bernadotte.
Repeated for info to London as 2415, Paris as 2307, Brussels as 979, Beirut as 375, Cairo as 877, Haifa as 180, Damascus as 252, Baghdad as 225, Jidda as 248.
- John J. Macdonald, the Consul General at Jerusalem. The Department notified New York on June 24 that Mr. Macdonald had been designated United States Representative on the Truce Commission, succeeding the late Mr. Wasson (telegram 423, 501.BB Palestine/6–2448).↩
- Jerusalem reported, on June 28, that the contents
of telegram 658 had been communicated to Count Bernadotte and that
the contents of the last paragraph were being conveyed orally to”
the Arabs and the Jews (telegram 989, 501.BB Palestine/6–2848).
Minister Childs communicated the substance of the same message to Shaikh Yussef, who transmitted it to King Ibn Saud. The latter, having taken counsel with King Abdullah, then visiting the Saudi monarch, directed that a reply be made. The text of the reply, given in telegram 388, July 1, noon, from Jidda, stated that the two monarchs wished to reach a just solution of the Palestine question that would accord the Arabs their rights and that they were hoping for and counting on the justice of the United States Government (501.BB Palestine/7–148).
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