701.67N11/5–2748
Memorandum by the Acting Secretary of State to President Truman
Subject: United States Government Representation in Palestine
At the present time the United States Government is represented in Palestine by a Consulate General at Jerusalem and a Consulate at Haifa.
On May 14 the United States recognized the Provisional Government as the de facto authority of the new State of Israel.
On May 19, 1948 Moshe Shertok, Foreign Secretary in the Provisional [Page 1059] Government of the State of Israel, telegraphically requested the Secretary of State to approve the establishment in Washington of a Legation of Israel. Mr. Shertok at the same time asked the approval of the United States to the designation of Mr. Eliahu Epstein as the Minister of Israel. Mr. Shertok expressed his hope that the United States would soon establish an American Legation in Israel and would send a representative to Tel Aviv with the status of Minister.
Consideration should, therefore, be given to what changes may be required in United States Government representation in Palestine.
The Department of State recommends:
- 1.
- The Consulate General at Jerusalem should be continued. Jerusalem is the principal city of Palestine. It is revered by Christians, Jews and Moslems.
- 2.
- The Consulate at Haifa should be continued. Haifa is the principal port in Palestine.
- 3.
- A Mission of the United States should be established in the capital of the new state of Israel for the purpose of performing political and consular functions. It is believed that Tel Aviv or a suburb of that city will be selected as the capital by the Provisional Government of Israel. This Mission should be headed by a Special Representative of the United States.
- 4.
- Approval should be given to the establishment of a Mission of the Provisional Government of Israel in Washington, headed by a Special Representative of the Provisional Government of Israel. The United States should agree to the designation, by the Provisional Government of Israel, of Mr. Eliahu Epstein as Special Representative-of the Provisional Government of Israel in the United States.
The above type of exchange of Missions and Representatives is recommended by the Department of State as being appropriate to maintain between the two Governments the de facto relationship expressed in the President’s announcement of May 14, 1948, when he stated that the United States recognized “the Provisional Government as the de facto authority of the new state of Israel”.
In view of the fluid situation in Palestine it is our suggestion that the consular districts be not specifically delimited at the present time. The consular offices in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa will report directly to the Department of State and each of them will deal in questions regarding the protection of American lives and property with those authorities with whom each of the consular offices may be able to maintain contact.
Attached to this memorandum is a draft of a letter which the Department proposes to send to Mr. Epstein in Washington, in reply to the request of the Provisional Government of Israel set forth in Mr. Shertok’s telegram of May 19, 1948. If this letter is approved, the Department also contemplates making a copy available to the Jewish [Page 1060] authorities in Palestine through the American Consulate General in Jerusalem.1
- Marginal notation by Mr. Wilkins: “Approved by the President
according to Mr. Lovett—May 27, 1948 2:45 p. m.” For the letter sent
to Mr. Epstein, see p. 1074.
In a memorandum of June 15 to President Truman, the Acting Secretary stated:
“Pending the selection and appointment of a special representative to head the Mission of the United States in Israel the Department proposes to establish its Mission in Tel Aviv or a suburb of Tel Aviv and will provide the necessary personnel. The Department has assigned Mr. Charles Frederick Knox, Jr., an American Foreign Service Officer, to the staff of its Mission and is assigning him as Acting Special Representative pending the selection and appointment of a Special Representative.” (701.67N11/6–1548)
In a memorandum of June 16 to Mr. Clifford, George M. Elsey discussed Mr. Lovett’s memorandum of the previous day. He observed that Max Lowenthal, an unofficial consultant in the White House, opposed Mr. Lovett’s proposals in that they entailed a further delay in the de jure recognition of Israel. Mr. Elsey concluded that “I see nothing to be gained by an announcement at this time and I recommend that Lovett be informed that no action be taken until the President returns to Washington and a decision has been readied on the U.S. representative to head our mission to Israel. The designation of a Foreign Service officer as a temporary head is a snub.” (Elsey Papers) The editors have found no evidence that Mr. Lovett’s proposals were rejected.
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