501.BB Palestine/12–948: Telegram
The Acting Chairman of, the United States Delegation at Paris (Dulles) to the Secretary of State
secret urgent
niact
niact
Paris, December
9, 1948—8 p. m.
Delga 1139. For Satterthwaite and Hare from Kopper.
- 1.
- Last evening it appeared to us Arab states would abstain on amended Palestine resolution and would inform friends, Asians and [Page 1658] otherwise, that they would have no objection to their casting votes in favor of resolution (Delga 1122, December 9). This Arab position confirmed by Riad Solh and Ammoun (Lebanon) and Fawzi Bey (Egypt). Only major question remaining to be settled was composition of commission upon which Arab states had themselves been unable to agree and still have not.
- 2.
- Announcement today that SC would hold meeting Friday morning December 10 to take up application of Israel for admission UN has had major effect on Arab attitude. At noon today both Riad Solh and Fawzi flatly declared favorable SC action on Israeli application would cause Arabs to reverse stand of last evening. Arabs would vote against GA resolution and strongly urge friends to do so. Riad Solh went so far as to say Lebanon’s whole approach to future questions would have to be reviewed if Israel’s application were now approved by SC. He urged strongly that action be postponed, reiterating that SC approval now would be complete defeat position Arab leaders here.
- 3.
- Arguments that (a) SC action on admission and GA resolution on settlement are separate questions and (b) there is little likelihood GA will approve admission application even though SC might do so are unavailing in discussions with Arabs. Reasons why Arabs are unconvinced seem to be that (a) SC membership committee indicated in its report that questions of admission and GA resolution on settlement were linked by several members, and (b) favorable SC action on Israeli application would be more than a confirmation of November 29, 1947 resolution.
Sent Department Delga 1139, repeated London 1460. [Kopper.]
Dulles