501.BB Palestine/8–1648: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Jerusalem
838. Conversation reported your 1198 August 161 reflects theme previously noted in other telegrams such as your 1148 August 21 and Tel Aviv’s 36 August 22 to effect that in Israeli eyes Christian nations have shown they are not interested in Jerusalem and that this justifies Jews in taking new attitude toward the City.
We are at loss to understand Dr. Senator’s3 remark stressing “particularly Christian disinterest in fate Jerusalem” in light very strenuous efforts made in Special Session GA by French and US delegations to insure demilitarization Jerusalem and safety of holy places. These efforts are matter official record, known to every member UN.
In future conversations with Jewish leaders please energetically refute these allegations.
Changed attitude Jews in Jerusalem toward Bernadotte and UN reported your 1198 is due, we feel, perhaps not so much to intrinsic loss of prestige by Mediator and by UN to fact that Jews are seemingly lifting their sights and are campaigning to achieve new objective; namely control Jerusalem itself. It would seem natural, if this is case, for them to deprecate UN and Mediator.
As for Senator’s comment that UN is unable to enforce its decisions you may take occasion to indicate him and other Jewish leaders sharing this view that US is in grave earnest in its determination that SC action shall be considered, if necessary, under Chapter VII of Charter. Israelis, we feel, will be making great mistake if they seek to base policy on alleged decrease UN prestige and ability UN to carry out its decisions.
Repeated Tel Aviv as 49 for background and for appropriate use with officials of PGI; repeated for info London as 3283; Paris as 3187; Brussels as 1250; and USUN as 542.