501.BB Palestine/8–148: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Jerusalem
secret us urgent
niact
niact
Washington, August 3,
1948—3 p. m.
793. Please inform Count Bernadotte of following re urtels 1146 and 1147.1
- 1.
- We are forwarding to Count Bernadotte as rapidly as possible the additional observers and signal equipment and personnel which he has requested. Brig. Gen. W. E. Riley, US Marine Corps, has been appointed Chief of US Observers and will depart Washington for Rhodes on Tuesday. Remaining observers will be staged in by air transport within next few days. The list of equipment and personnel was received from UN July 28. We had previously been working on list of requirements which resulted from Count Bernadotte’s discussion with Admiral Sherman on July 23 as complete statement of his planned needs, and had provided such portions of equipment and personnel as immediately available in Mediterranean. The US does not have military installations or unlimited quantities of personnel and equipment in Mediterranean.
- 2.
- Regarding nature of commitment which use of Marines would involve, wearing of UN arm band does not relieve US of basic responsibility for guaranteeing security of its military formations. There is no assurance that such units would not be subjected to attack by well-armed groups such as the Irgun or Stern gang. We could not commit armed units to that situation without being prepared to reinforce them with whatever is required to guarantee their safety. Location of Jerusalem with respect to Jewish and Arab forces and with respect to lines of communication makes this basic security requirement a far heavier commitment than may be realized.
- 3.
- SC, in addition, has not thus far taken action to provide international forces to enforce truce in Jerusalem. Nor has SC arranged with member govts. for providing such forces. There is fundamental difference between observers who are not authorized to use force in any way, and armed contingents which are expected to suppress disorder and violence.
- 4.
- There seems to be some misunderstanding as to attitude of French with respect to Marine guards. French have informed us that they consider Count Bernadotte’s request as entirely new subject which would have to be discussed and acted upon by SC.
- 5.
- We are prepared to make strong representations to Israel and [Page 1276] to Transjordan that they must cooperate to maximum with Count Bernadotte in demilitarization of Jerusalem, including provision of well-disciplined police forces to keep lawless and dissident elements under control. We are unwilling to accept as final the view that use of Arab and Jewish police in Jerusalem is impossible due to mistrust and deeply rooted hatred which they have for each other. Jerusalem is city inhabited by Arabs and Jews. Rest of world has right to insist that they put aside their mistrust and hatred at least for minimum purpose of providing local police forces under international observance to maintain rudiments of law and order. It may be recalled that SC has ordered parties to accept, and that they have accepted, ceasefire and truce, essential ingredient of which is willingness to live side by side without resort to arms. We believe that strenuous efforts to bring about joint Arab-Jewish regime in Jerusalem under UN observation might be successful; in any event we believe it imperative that every possible effort be made in this direction.
- 6.
- We regret any feeling on Count Bernadotte’s part that the US is not being cooperative in supporting him in carrying out his mission as Mediator. The record would not bear out any such conclusions. We are fully aware of the enormous difficulties with which he is confronted and believe that he has made remarkable progress toward a solution by peaceful means of the situation in Palestine. We are ready to discuss at any time the nature of our assistance and to work out with Count Bernadotte and the UN Secretariat a plan for furnishing his essential requirements.2
Marshall