501.BB Palestine/4–2748: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State
511. For Lovett from Rusk. Preceding telegram contains latest draft articles of truce1 which Shertok asks Wasson deliver JA representatives Jerusalem. Similar text will be furnished Arab representatives New York early Tuesday for their consideration. I recognize some possibility this personal activity may complicate matters, yet both parties are clearly within range of agreement and both prefer this indirect and unofficial procedure. If Department sees points of danger as discussions continue, I shall try to guide us back into desired line, but my theory thus far has been to give parties their maximum chance since they are moving toward agreement.2
Proskauer has been most helpful with Shertok. At meeting late Monday night of Proskauer, Shertok, Ross and Rusk, Proskauer told Shertok that opinion in US was rapidly concluding that fighting must stop before anything else can happen and that JA must watch closely its public relations at this juncture. Unfortunately short time limit in latest draft was effort to meet Jewish fear that we had in mind some “indefinite” truce which to them seems to mean permanent truce. Although I should have preferred to leave duration up to SC if we can get Palestine question into discussion stage between Arabs and Jews, resort to arms will become increasingly difficult.
Proskauer drafted new text of Articles 6 and 7. My estimate is that once Arabs can confess their willingness to accept immigration article, final agreement will turn upon wording of Article 6.
[Page 865]If truce can be agreed along lines these articles, result may have substantial bearing upon our trusteeship proposals. Both JA and AHC dislike trusteeship and may prefer some ad hoc arrangement of less formal character. US delegation’s position thus far has been sufficiently flexible to permit adjustment to any alternative preferred by Arabs and Jews. [Rusk.]
- No. 510, April 27, not printed. The draft articles are in the memorandum prepared in the Department of State on April 28, p. 866.↩
- Mr. McClintock, in a memorandum of April 27, notified Mr. Lovett of telephonic information from New York the same day that the conversations by Mr. Rusk and his associates with Jewish and Arab spokesmen had been making hopeful progress. Practically all articles had been agreed to by Mr. Shertok and Fawzi Bey as spokesman for the Arab League. Disagreement was still manifest on the question of immigration but discussions were continuing (501.BB Palestine/4–2748).↩