176. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel1
54. Tel Aviv’s 45.2FYI. Our preliminary thoughts on conduct business with GOI following election as follows:
a.) Ambassador or Chargé make initial courtesy call on FonMin in Jerusalem offices Foreign Ministry subsequently to call at Foreign Ministry when necessary.FonMin, in turn, to visit Tel Aviv periodically for conduct official business. b.) Existing liaison office in Tel Aviv to remain open and senior officers be stationed there. c.) Embassy to remain at Tel Aviv, d.) Ambassador to attend at his discretion social and official functions in Jerusalem but endeavor minimize practice and avoid functions carrying special connotation acceptance Jerusalem as capital. e.) U.S. may if necessary issue press statement explaining that arrangements intended only to facilitate practical conduct of business and do not imply any change in US policy re future Jerusalem.GOI to be requested minimize press comment on changes. Mutual interests best served by not raising issue publicly and thus probably precipitating GA debate. End FYI.
Embassy comments requested on substance above and on tactics.
You may consult British, French and Turkish colleagues and report their views. You should stress preliminary character US views.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 601.0084A/7–2255. Confidential. Drafted by Wilkins and Burdett and approved by Allen, who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Jerusalem and Amman, and pouched to London and Paris.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 173.↩