Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/11–1448: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State

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Paris, November 14, 1948—9 p. m.

Delga 746. Verbatim text revised draft SC resolution on Palestine follows:1

“The SC

Reaffirming its previous resolutions concerning the establishment and implementation of the truce in Palestine and [recalling] in particular, its resolution of 15 July 1948 which determined that the situation in Palestine constitutes a threat to the peace within the meaning of Article 39 of the Charter;

[Page 1583]

Taking note that the GA is continuing its consideration of the future government of Palestine in response to the request of the SC of 7 April 1946 [1948];

Without prejudice to the action of the Acting Mediator regarding the implementation of the resolution of the SC of 4 November 1948 in regard to which he has consulted with the Committee of the Council appointed by that resolution;

Decides that, in order to eliminate the threat to the peace in Palestine and to facilitate the transition from the present truce to permanent peace in Palestine, an armistice shall be immediately established in all sectors of Palestine;

Calls upon the parties directly involved in the conflict in Palestine, as a further provisional measure under Article 40 of the Charter, to enter into negotiations immediately, either directly or through the Acting Mediator on Palestine, with a view to the immediate establishment of the armistice including:

(a)
The delineation of permanent armistice demarcation lines beyond which the armed forces of the respective parties shall not move;
(b)
Such withdrawal and reduction of their armed forces as will ensure the maintenance of the armistice during the transition to permanent peace in Palestine,”2

Sent Department Delga 746, repeated London as 1263.

Marshall
  1. This draft, providing for an armistice in Palestine, was the third text sent to the Department in as many days. Secretary Marshall, on November 2, had transmitted the first of these (Delga 718, 501.BB Palestine/11–1248). The following day, he sent a revised draft, developed during consultation with the British and Canadian Delegations (Delga 740). In commenting on the revised draft, the Secretary wrote: “Department should note that inclusion of reference to November 4 resolution in second paragraph of new draft will probably not be very satisfactory to Israel. British, however, wanted stronger reference to November 4 in the first paragraph. We believe it essential to reach agreement with British re this matter and we believe it essential in order to reach such agreement to admit some reference to November 4. British have receded about 80–90 percent from their original position (a) of not being willing to consider the Bunche armistice approach at all and (b) of insisting on extending scope of November 4 resolution, including sanctions aspect, to other sectors of Palestine, in particular northern Galilee. On other hand new draft gives Israel 80–90 percent what they want, most important of all ‘being (a) SC recognition of armistice concept replacing truce as transition to permanent peace, (b) SC endorsement of principle of direct negotiation, and (c) elimination from Paragraph 3, Subparagraph (b) of preceding draft of language relating to ‘broad demilitarized zones.’” (Delga 739) Delga 739 and 740 are filed under 501.BB Palestine/11–1348.↩

  2. This draft resolution was agreed to by spokesmen for the United States, United Kingdom, and Canadian Delegations on November 14. The United States Delegation informed the Department of its view that “we are free under present instructions to support and vote for this revised text” (Delga 745 from Paris, 501.BB Palestine/11–1448)

    The Department, in reply on November 14, stated: “Your Delgas 739 and 740 November 13 were sent to President at sea for his instructions which are not yet forthcoming. Meanwhile we have received your 745 and 746 November 14 and concur that under instructions set forth in Gadel 420 you may support and vote for, but not sponsor, revised draft resolution whose text is contained in Delga 746.” (Gadel 475 to Paris, 501.BB Palestine/11–1448). (Regarding Gadel 420, see footnote 1 to telegram Delga 634, p. 1556.

    With minor changes, the draft resolution in Delga 746 was submitted to the Security Council on November 15 by the Canadian, French, and Belgian Representatives (SC, 3rd yr., No. 125, p. 4). For the statement by Mr. Jessup the same day on the draft resolution, see ibid., p. 25.

    ↩