501.BB Palestine/7–648: Telegram
The Acting United States Representative at the United Nations (Jessup) to the Secretary of State
845. From Boss. Following are highlights of conversation with Eban late Friday afternoon based on telegrams he had received from Shertok re Bernadotte suggestions:1
- 1.
- Suggestion concerning Jerusalem is unacceptable. PGP could never consent to turning over to Arabs the hundred thousand Jews in Jerusalem.
- 2.
- Suggestion concerning review of immigration at end of two years by proposed joint council is unacceptable since it would be a clear, impairment of Israeli sovereignty.
- 3.
- Idea of a concerted policy with Transjordan with regard to foreign affairs and defense is unacceptable as part of a settlement. Such, a concerted policy might evolve naturally provided Abdullah’s intentions were satisfactory to Israel.
- 4.
- Eban had received no comment from Shertok on territorial suggestions re the Negeb and western Galilee. Eban said this did not mean that Israel was prepared to accept these suggestions. Tone of Eban’s comment confirmed impression we have had that question of unimpaired sovereignty including control of immigration is much more important to PGI than question of territorial changes. This by no means indicates that territorial question viewed as unimportant. Both questions very important but sovereignty question not negotiable while territorial question might be.
Clearly indicated that PGI favors extension of truce and probably also demilitarization of Jerusalem provided latter could be accomplished without impairment welfare Jews that city and without impairment relative military position Israeli army.
Following is text of informal and confidential memorandum subsequently sent to me by Eban on PGI position in Jerusalem:
[Here follows text of memorandum.]
- [Ross]
- H. Jessup