501.BB Palestine/1–1949: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State
71. Following is text of declaration approved by Israeli and Egyptian representatives at Rhodes conference January 14 on agenda item “assurances as regards military offenses and national security” declaration will become preamble of armistice agreement. Text obtained from UN SYG:
“We, the undersigned, in full authority entrusted to us by our respective governments, desirous of promoting the return of permanent peace to Palestine, and recognizing the importance in this regard of mutual reassurances as regards the future military intentions of the parties, hereby affirm the following principles which will be fully observed by both parties during the armistice:
- 1.
- The injunction of the SC against resort to military force in the Palestine dispute shall be henceforth scrupulously respected by both parties.
- 2.
- No aggressive action by the military forces—land, sea or air—of either party shall be undertaken, planned (the use of the term ‘planned’ in this context has no bearing on normal staff planning as generally practiced in military organizations), or threatened against the people or the armed forces of the other.
- 3.
- The right of each party to its security and to freedom from fear of attack by the armed forces of the other shall be fully respected.
- 4.
- The establishment of an armistice between the armed forces of the two parties is accepted as an indispensable step towards the liquidation of armed conflict and the restoration of peace in Palestine.”