Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

501.BB Palestine/10–1849: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Jerusalem ¹

secret

Washington, October 24, 1949—7 p. m.

400. Your tel 627 Oct 18. Dept has always considered direct talks shld be encouraged particularly when it appears such talks wld lead to constructive action toward final settlement (Deptel 354 Aug 31² and Depcirgram Oct. 14, 2:15 p. m.). Dept sees no reason why MACs shld not be medium for direct discussions on wider range of subjects (you will recall Dept’s proposal that Israel–Jordan MAC under Riley consider broader aspects Jlem question), but believes parties concerned must themselves make decision on this matter.

Dept does not agree that present armistice agreements automatically lapse after one year. Provisions are made in all agreements for revision or suspension by mutual consent any time or after one year in absence mutual consent conference may be convoked to review agreement but parties continue to be bound in all events by injunctions against resort to armed action of any sort. However, Dept does agree it most desirable efforts be made move beyond armistice stage.

Acheson

1. This telegram was repeated by airgram to London, Amman, Cairo, Beirut, and Damascus.
2. This was a repeat of telegram 3126, August 30, to London, p. 1338.