Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/12–1749: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Israel 1

secret
Washington, December 20, 1949—1 p. m.

768. Pls convey fol to FonOff immed. US Govt has noted PriMin Ben Gurion’s statement concerning Jerusalem in Knesset on Dec 13 and subsequent reports of removal of PriMin’s office to Jerusalem.

As a friendly govt which has followed with interest and sympathy course of Israel’s development, US Govt desires to inform Israeli Govt that it considers particularly unfortunate any step or course of action on part of Israel likely to prejudice or complicate settlement of Jerusalem question, especially at moment when problem of Jerusalem is being studied by Trusteeship Council in accordance with terms of Res of UNGA of Dec 9, 1949.

Acheson
  1. This telegram was repeated to Jerusalem and New York.↩