Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V, Part 1

867N.6363/10–1648: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Delegation at the United Nations General Assembly, at Paris

secret   us urgent

Washington, October 19, 1948—7 p. m.

4082. Urtel 5404 Oct 16.¹ Be Haifa pipeline. Dept reply this matter delayed due non-receipt until now London tel 4478 Oct 13.² Following discussions with French and Brit here and view their primary interest as well as importance ERP Dept agrees in principle with suggestion last para urtel 5405² to support French and Brit proposal reopening pipeline. Definitive position dependent however on character proposals and nature desired support. Insufficient info available here these points.

Dept wishes avoid participating any action which would weaken US position of supporting Bernadotte conclusions and jeopardize acceptance or acquiescence both sides, but relies on GADel judgment whether pipeline proposal would have that effect. [At] your discretion you may wish consult Acting Mediator this regard.

Dept also of opinion initiative re proposal and approaches Iraq Govt and PGI should rest with French and Brit and US should avoid taking lead.

ECA concurs.

In view presence reps all parties Paris suggest current discussion be centered there.³

Lovett

1. Not printed; this telegram and airgram 1147, October 18, from Paris, advised that tripartite exploratory conversations on the reopening of the Kirkuk-Haifa pipeline were held at Paris on October 15. The American spokesmen hewed to the position set forth in the memorandum of October 7 to the French Embassy, not printed; but see footnote 5, p. 44. The French and British spokesmen took the position that the reopening of the pipeline for export purposes would in no way jeopardize the deliberations on Palestine at the United Nations. The last paragraph of No. 5404 gave the opinion of the American participants that the arguments of their opposite numbers were worthy of consideration and that the matter was of sufficient importance to the ECA to warrant the United States joining the British and French (867N.6363/10–1648/10–1848).
2. Not printed.
2. Not printed.
3. This telegram was repeated to London and Baghdad. In reply, on October 22, Paris advised that:

   “GADel agrees French-British proposal to reopen pipeline only for export crude would not weaken US position support of Bernadotte conclusions and would not jeopardize acceptance by Arabs and Jews providing approach to Iraqi[s] and Israeli[s] handled on strictly economic basis without our being drawn into a political discussion in any way. GADel including Secretary Marshall approve procedure:

   (1). Informal discussion with Acting Mediator by GADel representatives re his views.

   (2). Further discussion with French-British to indicate (providing Department approves):

   (a) US would support proposal re export crude oil provided approach Iraqi[s] and Israeli[s] be on strictly economic basis with no political discussions;

   (b) That initiative be taken by French and British in discussion Iraqi[s] and Israeli[s] with US approach separately; and

   (c) US approach to Israeli[s] would be contingent on favorable response from Iraqui[s].” (telegram 5509)

   The Department and the ECA, on October 25, approved the procedure set forth in No. 5509 (telegram 4159 to Paris). Paris advised, on October 22, that Acting Mediator “Bunche agreed US support would not be weakened or possibility agreement or acquiescence jeopardized if presently proposed approach is restricted to economic basis only.” (telegram 5517). All three messages used in preparing this footnote are filed under 867N.6363/10–2248.