501.BB Palestine/9–2548: Telegram
The Ambassador in Egypt (Griffis) to the Acting Secretary of State
1392. Azzam Pasha, AL Secretary General in informal conversation with Secretary Ireland, arranged obtain Azzam’s reaction Bernadotte report said flatly that report was not acceptable to Arabs. He particularly found objectionable:
- 1.
- The assignment to Israel of Galilee containing overwhelming majority of Arabs. Return of Negeb could not be compensation since population there also overwhelmingly Arab;
- 2.
- Failure make Haifa with 100,000 Arabs and 60,000 Jews an international city as he had understood had been intention of Bernadotte;
- 3.
- Assignment to Jews of Jaffa, a purely Arab city with a population of 100,000;
- 4.
- Failure assign Jerusalem to Arabs. If such failure was based on presence of 100,000 Jews at Jerusalem, he must point to reverse situation at Jaffa and Haifa, Jews could not have it both ways.
Even more important was failure recognize Arab objections to Jewish state with Arab majority. If it were said that since May 15 Arab majority no longer exists, he must point out that flight of Arabs had been due entirely to Jewish terrorism.
When asked whether guarantee of international frontiers would not constitute gain for Arabs, he responded that guarantee of frontiers of state not recognized by Arabs in first instance was of no interest. In any case UN guarantees mean nothing. Zionists were defying UN now and would continue to do so.
He then reiterated familiar themes concerning partition and attitudes of King Abdullah, US and Great Britain. He could understand how ambition swayed Abdullah as tool of British but still could not understand attitude of Great Britain or US. Both maintained they backed report in interest of peace and out of friendship for Arabs. In regard to former both US and Great Britain were actually making it impossible achieve permanent peace in ME, since all who were familiar with realities in plan knew peace would be impossible under Bernadotte’s plan.
Azzam said British Ministers Troutbeck and Clayton had just talked with him for more than two hours, urging acceptance Bernadotte plan. He had answered Arabs could not accept plan, they could not acquiesce.
In conclusion and in same mood, he repeated to Ireland that Arabs would continue resist. If US and Great Britain and UN wished to impose plan on Arabs let them send men, planes and battleships. In no other way could Bernadotte’s plan be enforced. Similar line pursued by Azzam in statement to press.
Sent Department as 1392, repeated London as 105.
Department please pass to Paris for USUN.
Paraphrased to Arab capitals.