501.BB Palestine/9–3048
Draft Telegram to the Special Representative of the
United States in Israel (McDonald)1
secret us urgent
niact
Washington, [undated.]
Please call on Ben Gurion and leave memorandum in following terms:
- “1. The US Govt, which as events have shown, has proved a
sincere friend of PGI,
desires in spirit of friendly counsel to urge that PGI accept or acquiesce in
conclusions of Bernadotte Plan in their entirety. US Govt is
gratified to be informed by its Representative in Tel Aviv
(your 151, Sept 28) that Israeli Foreign Minister departed
for Paris prepared to acknowledge Bernadotte’s report as
basis for discussion and in spirit of hope for a reasonable
settlement.
- “2. Although conclusions of Mediator may not in all
respects meet with Jewish desires this Govt is convinced
after careful analysis of Bernadotte’s recommendations that
his plan affords a common denominator for present
acquiescence as between Israel and Arab States and eventual
formal acceptance of a peaceful and permanent solution of
Palestine problem.
- “3. This Govt is fully cognizant of value attached by
PGI to the Negev but
cannot agree that relinquishment of this desert area is in
fact a basic loss to the new Jewish State. Territorial
proposals of the dead Mediator were not based on the number
of square miles accruing to one side or the other but on
terms of real value. Mediator’s proposals were motivated by
Count Bernadotte’s firm determination to
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accord even-handed justice
to both Jews and Arabs. While admittedly neither side will
receive under Bernadotte plan all that it desires, Jewish
statesmen must realize that in any viable political
settlement concessions must be made by both sides, To US
Govt it would accordingly seem to be the course of wisdom
for PGI to accept or
acquiesce in Bernadotte’s territorial recommendations,
confident that once a basis for peaceful development has
thus been established Jewish State will achieve its
additional objectives such as a trade route to the Orient or
peaceful commercial access to the Dead Sea by only sure
means to make possible attainment of these goals: friendly
agreement between neighboring peoples, both Arab and Jewish,
founded on mutual accommodation and interest. In
consequence, this Govt believes that, taking Bernadotte plan
as a whole, Israel stands materially to benefit.
- “4. As for pretensions of PGI to extension of its authority to include
the greater part of Jerusalem, US Govt is convinced that
recommendations of Mediator which are in effect identical to
those recommended by UN GA in
its resolution of Nov 29, 1947, afford most equitable
settlement of Jerusalem problem. This Govt, while
sympathetic to views of both Arab and Jewish Govts regarding
their respective communities in the Holy City, nevertheless
must look to worldwide interest in preservation of Jerusalem
and its ready access to persons of all three religious
faiths who regard Jerusalem as a central and symbolic point.
Accordingly this govt does not believe that PGI should control part of
Jerusalem or that it should have a corridor to that city.
Conclusions in Bernadotte Plan specifically providing for
right of unimpaired access to Jerusalem by rail, road and
air would seem in our opinion to obviate any need for a
Jewish corridor.
- “5. PGI should be prompt
to recognize advantages to it of Bernadotte’s conclusion in
4(d) which provides for special
assurance that new frontiers of Israel shall remain
inviolate. These assurances should be of particular value to
the small Jewish State as affording a bulwark against
possible pressure from the vast Arab world. This govt
believes that under UN charter not only shall all members of
UN settle their international disputes by peaceful means and
shall refrain in their international relations from threat
or use of force against territorial integrity or political
independence of any State (Art. 2, Para. 3 and 4), but the
organization shall ensure that States which are not members
of UN act in accordance with these principles. There is
therefore a Charter obligation to respect territorial
integrity of existing States. If new frontier in Palestine
can be demarcated on GA
recommendation and with acquiescence of the parties this
frontier will automatically be protected by Charter articles
cited above. Furthermore this Govt has many times made clear
its unequivocal view that SC
has responsibility to prevent recourse to force to settle
international differences. US in future will insist in
SC that any recourse to
hostilities from either side in Palestine situation be
opposed if necessary by action under Chapter VII.
- “6. Although we are cognizant of fact that PGI would prefer direct peace
negotiations with Arab Govts, Arab experts of PGI will undoubtedly have
themselves informed their Govt that under present
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emotional stress
it is most unlikely that Arab leaders will agree to enter
into such negotiations. Accordingly it seems to us that
Bernadotte plan with backing of UN Assembly and SC affords a ready instrument
for achieving those conditions of peace and tacit agreement
which are indispensable to peaceful development of Jewish
State.”
You should in your contacts with them leave no doubt in minds of any
responsible statesmen in Israel that US Govt and people believe that
Mediator has left a legacy to the world of a workable solution of
Palestine problem. In consequence this govt has a duty to use its utmost
endeavor as member of UN and as loyal friend of Israel to see that
Bernadotte plan is placed into effect.
Sent Tel Aviv for action as ________, repeated for info to Paris for
Gadel as _________, London as
______, Cairo as ________.
