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

501.BB Palestine/10–1848: Telegram

The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Acting Secretary of State

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Paris, October 18, 1948—11 p. m.

Delga 387. Fawzi Bey approached us urgently this afternoon on the following matter and said he considered it important enough to take up with the Secretary or acting head of our delegation. He requested a prompt expression of our view.

Fawzi said it was clear to the Egyptian Government that the Jews had unlawfully, in violation of the truce, taken the initiative in military activity in the Negev during the past few days.¹ He explained that whether it was a convoy or not it was certainly not a convoy in the UN sense because there had been no notification of any such convoy to UN authorities and UN authorities had certainly not accompanied such convoy. He also said that the Israelis had in any event bombed Egyptian installations.²

In the circumstances, Fawzi wanted to know what action the Government of the US would take. We asked if he intended to imply unilateral action by the US. He replied that the questions for us to decide were whether we would take any action and if we were prepared to take action whether it would be unilateral or in support of SC action.

Fawzi went on to say that paper resolutions were turning out to serve very little purpose. It would not be enough for the SC merely to pass another such resolution. He recalled that the July 15 resolution provided for consideration of further action by the SC under Chapter VII in the event either party violated the truce laid down in that resolution.

It is essential for us to make at least some interim reply to Fawzi, particularly since SC is meeting Tuesday morning at urgent suggestion of Acting Mediator to consider report from him on last days events in Negev area, including his request to both parties for an immediate cease-fire.³ In this connection, Bunche has talked with Egyptian and Israeli foreign ministers here, but at late hour this afternoon they had not received replies from their governments.

We planned to say to Fawzi that we have reported his inquiry to the Department and that we feel this inquiry must be considered in the light of the Acting Mediator’s report and consideration of this report by the SC.⁴

Austin

1. For cablegrams of October 15 and 16 from Acting Egyptian Foreign Minister Ibrahim Dessuky Abaza to Secretary-General Lie concerning alleged violations of the truce by Israeli forces, see SC, 3rd yr., Supplement for October 1948, p. 54. For the texts of the letters of October 8 and October 18 from Mr. Eban to the President of the Security Council concerning alleged violations of the truce by Arab forces, see ibid., pp. 50, 63.
2. Foreign Minister Abaza in discussing with an officer of the American Embassy on October 18, the alleged Egyptian refusal to permit Israeli convoys to traverse lines to beleaguered settlements in Negev, “did not deny Egyptian halting of convoy but stated that Egyptians had offered to discuss problem of re-victualing the settlements. The Jews had, however, answered by armed attack.” (Telegram 1504, October 20, 10 a. m., from Cairo, 867N.01/10–2048)
3. For the text of Mr. Bunche’s report of October 18, see SC, 3rd yr., Supplement for October 1948, p. 55.
4. The Department, in reply on October 19, stated: “You should tell Fawzi Bey US will of course continue to act within framework UN and will not take unilateral action re present military activity in Negev (Delga 387). Dept approves action outlined last para urtel.” (Telegram Gadel 247, 501.BB Palestine/10–1848)