867N.00/8–1948
The Special Representative of the United States in Israel (McDonald) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 9.]
No. 38
Sir: I have the honor to report that on August 13, 1948 I was invited to pay my official courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs Moshe Shertok whom I have known as a personal friend for some years. I was accompanied by the Counselor of Mission.
The Minister received me with great friendliness and the meeting lasted some forty-five minutes, following which the Minister introduced me to Dr. Walter Eytan, Director-General of the Foreign Office with whom I had tea and pleasant conservation.
In the course of my conversation with the Minister I referred to my visit en route with Dr. Chaim Weizmann in Vevey, Switzerland. This turned the conversation into fields of considerable interest—i.e. the plans which the Provisional Government are making with reference to the forthcoming general elections for the Constituent Assembly, the return of Dr. Weizmann and his inauguration as President of the Council of State, the efforts being made to formulate a draft of a Constitution for eventual consideration by the Constituent Assembly, etc.
The Minister stated that, in accordance with the expressed will of the Council of State, a Special Committee of the Council was working strenuously to draw up procedures for a general registration of the electorate. The immediate problem was to determine what form of identification and registration of voters is possible under the extraordinary war time conditions existing; some members of the Committee are in favor of requiring identity cards with photographs and fingerprints; others reject the idea of fingerprints as being associated with police control. Also there arises the question of how to register the [Page 1327] armed forces who remain mobilized on a war footing at the fronts, and many other procedural and technical problems.
The Minister emphasized, however, that the Council had ordered that the registration of voters be completed by October 1, 1948 and that the Provisional Government would do its utmost to carry out the order of the Council. After registration is complete, general elections for representatives to a Constituent Assembly will be held, the tentative date being sometime in January 1949.
In the meantime, stated the Minister, plans are proceeding rapidly to bring Dr. Weizmann to Israel on or about September 15, and to inaugurate him, with appropriate ceremonies, as President of the State Council. The Minister stated categorically that there was absolutely no foundation in the tendentious rumors that Dr. Weizmann’s return had been delayed because of the Government’s inability to protect his person from unfriendly elements within, or without, Israel. The delay has been occasioned, he affirmed, by the sheer overwhelming burden of organizing the government, fighting off the attacks of six nations, and formulating plans for a proper reception and inauguration.
As regards the preparation of a Constitution, the Minister stated that the task was, of course, the prerogative of the Constituent Assembly and that the Provisional Government had no concern in the matter. By agreement, however, with the Council of State, a group of eminent constitutional lawyers are drawing up tentative suggestions and ideas which will give the Constituent Assembly a working paper from which to proceed.
I am convinced that the Provisional Government is determined to proceed with electoral registration and elections to a Constituent Assembly at the earliest possible moment. When one considers the burden and confusion of the war, however, there arises in my mind the question as to whether it is mechanically possible to register all the people of voting age by October 1st and I consider that the Council may have to concede an extension of time in this regard.
The Mission will keep the Department informed of all developments in these matters.
Respectfully yours,