Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V, Part 2

501.BB Palestine/5–148: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Jerusalem

secret   us urgent
niact

Washington, May 1, 1948—11 p. m.

340. Our next telegram repeats substantial text telegram addressed to President of Security Council, Parodi, by Shertok, Jewish Agency, today alleging Arab invasion of Palestine.¹ SC may meet May 3 to consider JA telegram and factual situation in Palestine, keeping in mind its basic responsibility for maintenance of international peace and security.

We understand that SC President has telegraphed Truce Commission asking for full and immediate report on allegations in JA telegram.

Please telegraph niact your appreciation present situation Palestine (repeated for action also to Beirut as 200 Damascus 149 Baghdad 133 Cairo 499 Jidda 157). (1) Have Arab armies entered Palestine? (2) If so from which territory? (3) Have they been sent by Govts or are they irregulars or volunteers? (4) Has UK as Palestine Govt or otherwise invited entry of Arab Legion?

Jerusalem and London likewise telegraph full report Jewish military operations. We are mindful that JA telegram may be intended to divert attention from activities of Haganah and other Jewish armed organizations.

Repeated London as 1565 with request immediate inquiry be made Foreign Office and other informed authorities as to facts of situation.²

Marshall

1. Mr. Shertok’s communication alleged that Syrian, Lebanese, and Transjordanian regular armed forces were attacking Jewish settlements in the Gallilee and in the Jordan Valley and that Egyptian forces had crossed Palestine’s southern border; for text, see SC, 3rd yr., Supplement for May 1948, p. 37.
2. United States diplomatic establishments at Arab capitals advised telegraphically on May 2 and 3 that Arab armies had not entered Palestine. Some of the messages, however, noted that that various Arabs forces had been put on a war footing or had moved to the Palestine border and that about 650 Egyptian and North African volunteers had crossed into Palestine within the last ten days. London advised, on May 2, that the British Foreign Office had no information concerning the entry of Arab forces into Palestine or that they were likely to do so before May 15 (telegram 1885, 501.BB Palestine/5–248).