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

501.BB Palestine/2–2348: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Legation in Syria

secret   us urgent
niact

Washington, February 23, 1948—6 p. m.

34. 1. It is planned that Sen Austin will make important statement tomorrow morning before SC with respect to Palestine. Full text will be telegraphed Jerusalem and all Arab capitals¹ in clear as soon as he starts to speak. There will probably be many sensational and distorted rumors in Middle East re substance his statement. It is suggested in your discretion that you endeavor to prevail upon local govt officials and other leaders to refrain from making public statements re Austin’s speech until they have had opportunity to examine carefully complete text. Public statements made by Arab leaders re speech before they have full understanding its significance may not only work against a peaceful and satisfactory solution of problems facing UN re Palestine but also against Arab interests.

2. In discussing text of statement with officials of govt to which you are accredited please emphasize how important it is in interests of Arab countries themselves as well as in interests of UN and world peace that Arab govts take at once all possible steps to prevent infiltration of fighting men and arms into Palestine and that they also desist immediately from training and equipping armed forces for Palestine and making statements which can be construed as threats to interfere in Palestinian affairs. Arab countries should understand that if SC finds that Arab countries through force or threats of force are creating in Palestine threat to international peace it has no choice other than to take steps in strict accord with Charter. Otherwise UN may be bankrupt.²

3. In talking with local govt officials please make clear that govt of US is adopting present position in interests of justice, of world peace, and of UN; that it cannot be swayed from course which it is following by US internal political pressures or by external threats of any kind. US Govt is convinced that maintenance of close friendly relations and understanding between Arab countries and US is in their common interests. It believes that position which it has assumed is consistent with maintenance of such relations.

4. Please do not discuss contents of para 2 and 3 above with anyone until you have received and studied Austin’s statement.

Sent Damascus as Depts 34 rptd Cairo as Depts 211 Beirut as Depts 83 Baghdad as Depts 60 and Jidda as Depts 55 for action; to Jerusalem³ as Depts 130 for info. Repeated USUN as Depts 81.

Marshall

1. In telegram 35 to Damascus, February 24, repeated to Arab capitals and Jerusalem, not printed.
2. The Department, in an unnumbered service telegram to Damascus, February 23, 12 midnight, directed deletion of the last sentence of this paragraph. This message is attached to the record copy of telegram 34.
3. The Department, on February 25, directed Jerusalem to take similar action with the Government of Trans Jordan on an informal basis (telegram 136, 501.BB Palestine/2–2548).