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

501.BB Palestine/8–748: Telegram

The Consul General at Jerusalem (Macdonald) to the Secretary of State

secret

Jerusalem, August 7, 1948—2 p. m.

1173. As suggested by Mediator Truce Commission and Commander Arab Legion, Jerusalem held preliminary discussions yesterday re demilitarization Jerusalem. Commander presented Truce Commission with following notes on demilitarization which are considered very fair and basis for further talks with view of accomplishing demilitarization as provided for in SC resolution of July 15.¹

“Notes on demilitarization Jerusalem.

• “1. The settlement aimed at under the demilitarization is temporary without prejudice to the final settlement of the future of Jerusalem which must depend upon the final settlement of the Palestine question as a whole.
• “2. The boundaries of the demilitarization area of Jerusalem for [omission] reasons and in order to include important Holy places in the area must include an area larger than the municipal or the town planning areas. The area must be something like: Shaafat in the north—Issawieh, Bethany, Bethlehem, Beit, Jala, Lifta, Shaafat.
• “3. It is understood that essential supplies (non-military) will at all times be allowed to the Jews under a mixed control comprising of United Nations, Arabs and Jews.
• “4. Under demilitarization the Arabs will run their own areas, the Jews will run their own areas and United Nations will run common things like electric current supply, water supply, telephones and sewerage,
• “5. Arab and Jewish police in equal numbers and equally armed with normal police weapons will police the two areas. The UN guards will keep the frontier between the two areas.
• “6. Demilitarization must mean a return to normal, as far as possible a return to the status quo ante, as far as the area is concerned, i.e. the Arabs and Jews must be allowed to regain possession of their houses.
• “7. For security reasons, however, pockets must be eliminated as far as possible and the frontier line must be drawn so as to correspond with the property position eliminating pockets and exchanging areas temporarily at least.
• “8. The owners of non-Arab and non-Jewish buildings properties must opt as to the area to which they want to belong.
• “9. Ex-Govt owned buildings to be kept temporarily by the UN.
• “10. Return of looted moveable property or compensation for it specially in areas occupied without fighting in breach of the truce existing on May 14/15.
• “11. Visits to Jewish Holy places to be allowed at fixed times and in fixed numbers under United Nations escort.
• “12. A survey of Arab property in Jewish hands must be made as soon as possible, with a view to preventing its willful misuse by the Jews.”

Macdonald

1. The Department, on August 14, agreed that the suggestions of the Commander of the Arab Legion at Jerusalem for demilitarization of that city were fair and reasonable. It also noted the “increasing tendency of Israelis to take a stiffer line regarding Jerusalem in particular and eventual terms of settlement in general.” (Telegram 3237 to London, 501.BB Palestine/8–948)