867N.01/5–1648: Telegram
The Minister in Lebanon (Pinkerton) to the Secretary of State
180. Foreign Minister delivered to entire diplomatic corps in Beirut memorandum adopted by Arab League Political Committee in [Page 1003] Damascus yesterday. This contains historical statement on Palestine followed by Arab declaration now that mandate has ended with no “legally constituted authority” to administer law and protect life and property. Main points this declaration are:
- (a)
- Eight to set up government pertains to its population.
- (b)
- Peace and order have been completely upset in Palestine with result that more than quarter million Arabs have been compelled by Jewish aggression seek refuge in other Arab countries, and Palestine has been left with no administrative authority “entitled to maintain and capable of maintaining a machinery of administration of the country adequate for the purpose of ensuring due protection of life and property.”
- (c)
- There is threat “that this lawlessness may spread to neighboring Arab states where feeling is already very tense on account of the prevailing conditions in Palestine.”
- (d)
- Arab states sincerely wish UN might succeed in finding just solution of problem.
- (e)
- Arab states are responsible for maintenance of law and order in this area “by virtue of their responsibility as members of Arab League which is a regional organization within the meaning of chapter 8 of the Charter of the UN.”
- (f)
- “For these reasons and considering that the security of Palestine is a sacred trust for them, and out of anxiousness to check the further deterioration of the prevailing conditions and to prevent the spread of disorder and lawlessness into the neighboring Arab lands, and in order to fill the vacuum created by the termination of the mandate and the failure to replace it by any legally constituted authority, the Arab Governments find themselves compelled to intervene for the sole purpose of restoring peace and security and establishing law and order in Palestine.”
- (g)
- Arab states recognize independence of Palestine and maintain that lawful inhabitants are alone entitled to set up administration for discharge of government functions without external interference, and as soon as that stage is reached, Arab intervention will be ended.
- (h)
- Arab Governments confirm “that the only fair and just solution to the problem of Palestine is the creation of a unitary state of Palestine based upon the democratic principles which will enable all its inhabitants to enjoy equality before the law and which would guaranty to all minorities the safeguards provided for in all democratic constitutional states, affording at the same time full protection and free access to holy places.”
The Arab states emphatically and repeatedly declare that their intervention in Palestine has been prompted solely by the considerations and for the aims set out above and that they are not inspired by any other motive whatsoever. They are therefore confident that their action will receive the support of the UN as tending to further the [Page 1004] aims and ideals of the UN as set out in its Charter (end of declaration).1
Foreign Minister says copies of this memorandum will be delivered diplomats in all Arab capitals. This telegram therefore not repeated any mission.
- For a further exposition of the views of the Arab League on the question of Palestine, see Secretary General Azzam’s cablegram of May 15 to Secretary-General Lie, SC, 3rd yr., Supplement for May 1948, p. 83.↩