Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/4–1248: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin)

secret   us urgent
Washington, April 12, 1948—6 p. m.

208. For purposes of your conversations tomorrow with President Lopez and colleagues from delegations of UK, France and Canada on truce terms in Palestine Dept recommends that you urge following terms be incorporated in any truce proposal to be formulated by SC:

1.
An immediate cease-fire and cessation of hostilities.
2.
Assurances from both Arabs and Jews to permit continued functioning of essential public services in Palestine.
3.
An agreement to suspend all activity of a military or political nature pending reconsideration of the Palestine problem by the Special Session.
4.
Appointment of a Truce Commission to ensure the observance of a cease-fire order.
5.
Admonition by SC to all peoples, governments and organizations to refrain from permitting or committing any acts which may tend to violence in Palestine or to breach of truce in Palestine.1

Lovett
  1. In a memorandum covering his telephone conversation with Ambassador Austin on April 13, Mr. McClintock noted that the Ambassador was “considerably disturbed” with the text of telegram 208, preferring that the terms of the truce be spelled out in greater detail. Mr. McClintock explained that “there was no conflict between the more broad principles suggested by the Department and his [Ambassador Austin’s] deductions from these principles.” Mr. McClintock noted further that “Our conversation left Ambassador Austin much relieved in his mind. I cautioned him, however, that the Department’s telegram had been signed by Mr. Lovett personally and had received White House clearance. In consequence it possessed the very highest authority. Ambassador Austin said that he might in the course of negotiation have to defer to the suggestions of others. I said that we should be delighted if this was the case since this was not an American truce but a Security Council truce.” (501.BB Palestine/4–1348)↩