867N.01/2–1449
Memorandum by the Secretary of State to the President
Subject: De jure recognition of the Governments of Israel and Transjordan.
On August 30, 1948 you approved a policy of simultaneously ex tending de jure recognition to Israel and Transjordan, after the Israeli elections.1 On October 24, 1948, you declared in a public statement that when a permanent government was elected in Israel it would promptly be given de jure recognition.2
The Israeli elections took place on January 25. Reports so far received are that the moderate Mapai party of David Ben Gurion, which is now in control of the Provisional Government of Israel, has won enough votes to assure that it will remain in control of the administration, with the assistance of political groups sympathetic to it. Accordingly, I believe we should plan to extend full recognition to Transjordan and Israel in the very near future.
There are attached draft telegrams to our representatives in Tel Aviv (Tab A)3 and Amman (Tab B) instructing them to announce to representatives of the governments concerned the decision of the United States to extend full recognition, and suggested press releases to be issued here after the above notifications have been made (Tab C) and (Tab D).
Subject to your approval, it is suggested that our Mission in Tel Aviv become an Embassy and that Mr. James G. McDonald, who is your Special Representative, be named Ambassador to Israel. It is also suggested that Mr. Wells Stabler, a Foreign Service Officer who [Page 703] is at present in Amman in the capacity of liaison officer for the American Member of the Security Council Truce Commission in Palestine, be named Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of our Mission in Amman, which should be a Legation.
I should appreciate your advice as to the timing of this recognition. It seems to me that it might come as early as the latter part of this week and that shortly thereafter we could request agrement for Mr. McDonald as Ambassador to Israel.4
- See memorandum of August 30, 1948, by the Secretary of State to President Truman, and footnote 1, Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. v, Part 2, p. 1359.↩
- See telegram Telmar 97, October 24, 1948, to Paris, ibid., p. 1512.↩
- The tabs cited in this memorandum are not printed.↩
- President Truman gave his approval in an undated marginal notation. Regarding the telegrams sent to Tel Aviv and to Amman on January 31, see the editorial note, p. 713.↩