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

501.BB Palestine/6–2948: Telegram

The Chargé in Egypt (Patterson) to the Secretary of State

confidential

Cairo, June 29, 1948—4 p. m.

875. Conversations Arab League officials and representatives Arab states since my telegram 778, June 16, suggest Bernadotte personally, and his mission, have lost influence with many leading Arabs. Failure to take vigorous action in alleged Jewish violations of truce as in Altalena incident at Tel Aviv and by Irgun and Stern at Jerusalem has raised concern as to ability or willingness to redress balance as announced. Bundle’s connection with Anglo-American commission which recommended partition has also raised doubt his disinterestedness. Current opinion inclined to regard every US action as calculated not to produce lasting peace, but to hamper Arabs and assist Jews. Consequently, Bernadotte’s mission held merely another UN instrument forged by US to support Jewish state. Press also points to US Jews among military observers as indicative America’s lack of neutrality. Foreign Office official informally expressed view to me today that US exchange diplomatic representative with Israel was regarded by Arabs as violation truce since it violated status quo through implication that US supported Jewish state.¹

According to Military Attaché here, Egyptian military authorities have stated that US military observers in Palestine imply that full information concerning Arab positions will eventually fall into Jewish hands and that Military Attaché can no longer count cooperation Egyptian military authorities with his office.

Local attitude remains antagonistic to US. Sentiment stimulated by unilateral British action in Sudan also running high against British for refusal arms contrary to treaties, although American pressure on Great Britain is generally held to be responsible. Arab circles already suggesting that Britain can hardly break treaties at will, at same time it insists on strict treaty observance by Arabs.

Patterson

1. The Syrian Foreign Office sent a note to the American Legation, received June 29, which accused the United States of violating the truce by accrediting a Minister Plenipotentiary at Tel Aviv. This action, according to the Syrian note, ruptured the status quo called for by the truce (telegram 406, June 29, from Damascus, 501.BB Palestine/6–2948).