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

501.BB Palestine/5–2748: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

top secret   us urgent
niact

Washington, May 28, 1948—4 p. m.

1962. For the Ambassador. Most careful consideration has been given your Niact telegrams 2304, 2305, 2311 and 2313 of May 27.¹ You can be assured that we are fully aware of need to work with and not against Britain on Palestine problem. Our mutual task would have been easier, however, had British not been extremely laggard until eleventh hour in dealing with a crisis largely of their own making.

Foregoing for your personal info only. You may say to Bevin that this Govt will not lift arms embargo except in conjunction with SC action or inaction.

The President yesterday approved following policy:

a. The US will continue to urge that SC act immediately to bring about a cease-fire in Palestine. If this can be done under Chapter 6 of UN Charter as British urge, well and good; if not, SC should act under Chapter 7.

b. If SC issues cease-fire order under Articles 39 and 40 of Charter or calls upon parties under Chapter 6 to effect cease-fire for all of Palestine and there is failure to comply, US will be prepared to adjust its arms embargo policy to support action of SC.

c. US will support action by SC under Article 41 to order all govts to refrain from shipment of weapons and war materials and rendering of other military assistance to govts and authorities now participating in hostilities in Palestine, If Council succeeds in bringing about a cease-fire and placing an effective general arms embargo, US will retain its present arms embargo on entire Near East until such time as there is no longer any danger of hostilities.

d. If SC is unable to take effective action to bring about cease-fire or to impose general arms embargo, US will inform SC that we shall resume our freedom of action with respect to licensing of arms shipments.

In light of foregoing policy US is prepared to support UK ceasefire resolution introduced yesterday in SC (your tel 2313, May 27). We shall, however, first vote affirmatively on USSR resolution which calls for a cease-fire in Palestine within 36 hours because it is almost identical with our own resolution submitted to SC on May 17 and which failed of acceptance for lack of necessary seven affirmative votes. If USSR, resolution of May 27 fails to pass UK resolution will then come up for vote. We are instructing USUN in such event to support UK resolution with following changes:

[Here follow changes called for in telegram 337, May 28, to New York, and a summary of the last paragraph of that message.]

We regard Bevin’s assurances to you as reported your tel 2311, to effect that if British resolution is adopted during four weeks’ ceasefire period Britain will even suspend small arms deliveries HMG is still making under existing treaties to Egypt, Transjordan, and Iraq, as of first importance. Likewise we welcome British announcement of withdrawal of officers from Arab Legion and indication that Legion subsidy will not be paid in July unless in accord with UN decisions.

On question of immigration we take it that if UK resolution is adopted British will be prepared to retain on Cyprus the approximately 25,000 Jews which we understand from British Embassy here it had been intended to transfer to Jewish area of Palestine by Aug. 1. Since most of the Cypriote Jews are apparently of military age such action by UK would appear essential.

Info from Jewish Agency Representatives at Lake Success indicates Jews will balk at UK resolution, objecting particularly to paras 3, 4, 7, and final para.² However, our suggested amendments to paras 3 and 4 would seem to go far to remove Jewish objection that standstill bears more injuriously upon them than upon Arab States.

You may inform Bevin fully of foregoing and add that while we do not at all agree with his tacit conclusion that UK will be responsible for Arabs while US will assume similar responsibility for Jews, we are nevertheless prepared officially to suggest to Provisional Government of Israel wisdom at this juncture of accepting cease-fire along terms of UK resolution.³

Repeated for info only to Paris as 1851, Brussels as 813, USUN as 341.

Lovett

1. Nos. 2304, 2305, and 2313 not printed; regarding Nos. 2304 and 2313, see footnote 2, p. 1050, and the first footnote 1, p. 1067.
2. As reported by New York in telegram 721, May 28, 12:30 a.m., not printed (501.BB Palestine/5–2848).
3. Ambassador Douglas, on May 29, advised that “Dept’s 1962, May 28 is best news I have received in many weary weeks. When I saw Bevin this morning he said that he was glad US and UK relations are back on track again.” The Ambassador noted also that Mr. Bevin agreed with all the United States amendments and that the British Government would have to retain the Jews on Cyprus if the Security Council accepted the British resolution (telegram 2349 from London, 501.BB Palestine/5–2948).