501.BB Palestine/4–849: Telegram
The Ambassador in Israel (McDonald) to the Secretary of State
268. ReDeptel 208, April 6.1 Ethridge arrived Tel Aviv April 7 in time study Dept instructions before PCC Conference with Prime Minister. After receiving brief report from Ethridge of PCC talk with B[en-] G[urion] and Foreign Office staff I saw Prime Minister. My exchange with Prime Minister followed closely Dept’s argument and complemented and reinforced presentation BG PCC.
- 1.
- Prime Minister said he had not heard of “alleged Israel violation of Syrian frontier” until morning April 7; charges might be true and if confirmed troops would be ordered back at once and commander punished. Prime Minister insisted Israel concerned only to have Syrians return their side international frontier. Hour later Shiloah (in course long explanation at residence with staff re Israel–Transjordan armistice agreement and related matters being reported airgram fully) said positively that Israeli troops already withdrawn.
- 2.
- On question Israeli’s frontiers, Prime Minister’s attitude identical with that of Sharett reported Deptel 208.
- 3.
- Re Jerusalem Prime Minister said President Truman’s view (Deptel 208) was encouraging and that he hoped Israel and Transjordan could reach agreement on administration of city and internationalization of holy places. Israel prepared if necessary challenge PCC’s Jerusalem recommendations before GA.
- 4.
- Re refugees, Prime Minister repeated Sharett’s arguments (Deptel 208) and insisted any repatriation program must be “integral part peace settlement. It must not precede nor follow peace”. Israel’s contribution to repatriation and resettlement must wait until Arabs no longer threaten resumption war because returning refugees now might welcome invaders. He argued GA December 11 resolve impliedly accepted this thesis and he insisted that Israel’s answer on this point was unshakable.
In reply my argument that American and world public opinion was increasingly critical of Israel’s position and that it should in own interest accept Dept’s program of gradualism, Prime Minister replied: “I am fully aware public criticism but Israel too small make promises it cannot or does not intend to carry out. Israel right self-protection is paramount. Govt must insist irrespective criticism right defend country’s existence. Not fair ask it jeopardize safety by repatriation now”.
Comment: At present I see no prospect softening Israel’s position refugees. Attitude Jerusalem and frontiers more promising. Hence it is fortunate PCC is pressing plans European conference. I hope Dept decides call regional conference heads of American missions (Embtel 259. April 3)2 before Ethridge who strongly supports plan leaves this area.
- Not printed, but see footnote 2, p. 894.↩
- Not printed; in this message, for the attention of Mr. Satterthwaite, Ambassador McDonald suggested the “possibility regional conference preferably Rhodes while Bunche still there, of heads Missions Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad, Amman, Tel Aviv, Jidda, Cairo and possibly Yemen. Attendance Ethridge also obvious advantage him and us, and your or Hare’s presence as chairman would be most useful.” (501.BB Palestine/4–349)↩