501.BB Palestine/12–1248: Telegram
The Acting Chairman of the United States Delegation at Paris (Dulles) to the Acting Secretary of State
priority
Delga 1166. For Lovett from Rusk. In view of hostile attitude Israel is taking publicly toward membership Conciliation Commission, folio wing information furnished confidential basis.
In GA committee of Big Five asked to nominate 3 members of commission; UK, France and China immediately supported US, France and Turkey. Their theory was US was moderately pro-Israel, Turkey moderately pro-Arab and France generally neutral, slightly pro-Israel. US representative (Rusk) stated we had no serious objection to such slate, emphasized necessity for unity of action, and objected to concept that any one member of such committee be expected to act as special advocate for any party. Rusk then stated Big Five should have before them names of other members who had taken active interest in matter or had been suggested by one or more of the parties and indicated names of Colombia, Australia and Norway as deserving consideration. Vishinsky proposed Poland as member commission of small powers and insisted that if US were on commission USSR must also be included.
After further discussion, during which UK, France and China remained firm, and during which Rusk ascertained privately that these three would insist on their slate to point of casting ballots. Rusk stated he would support majority slate in interest of unity and hoped USSR would do same. Vishinsky refused, and committee reported 4–1 to GA recommending US, France, Turkey.
Background this meeting was week’s effort on part USGADel to find slate agreeable to parties. No one nominated by Israel such as Guatemala or Australia received support because of general feeling US was pro-Israel and that another strongly pro-Israel member would seriously upset balance of commission.
When Granados of Guatemala attempted to substitute Colombia for Turkey, Colombia promptly declined and slate was voted by 41–7–4. Some reason to think Israel’s real objection to commission is to France, because of latter’s known views on holy places and internationalization of Jerusalem.
Both Dulles and Cohen were on floor of Assembly for final vote and [Page 1664] appeared satisfied that commission is fair and workable. In any event, fact that US, with its strong support of Israel, is on commission leaves US in poor position to object. Of other 2 members are France, who supported partition, and Turkey, who has been most moderate of all friends of Arabs and who in fact voted in favor Palestine resolution.
We believe commission to be a good one and in any event it was constituted by majority vote in both nominating committee and Plenary Session without any pressure from US. Great contrast between calm attending this action compared with violent feeling of November 29 and May 14 constitutes good omen for peaceful settlement Palestine question. [Rusk.]