501.BB Palestine/1–2349: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State
85. In two cables from Rhodes dated January 22, Bunche expressed to the SYG great discouragement over Israeli-Egyptian negotiation. He did not give a detailed report of the negotiations and difficulties1 but stated he felt that his usefulness was nearly ended and urged that the SC at once hand over his function to the Conciliation Commission as he had recently requested. It was Bundle’s opinion that the current situation demands pressure i.e. governmental levels rather than per suasion by an individual.
In reply SYG Lie cabled on January 23 expressing complete confidence in Bunche, informing him that all had full confidence in his ability, and urging that he must carry on his functions through a completion of the current talks even if they became completely stalemated.
Bunche also expressed alarm to the SYG at reports which had reached him from newsmen that US was considering naming him as US representative on the Conciliation Commission.
- In a telegram of January 24, 8:45 a. m., to Mr. Rusk, transmitted through the facilities of the United States Navy, Mr. Bunche advised that the previous evening he had been informed officially by the Israeli Delegation at Rhodes that the withdrawal of Egyptian forces at al-Faluja, scheduled to begin on the morning of January 25, had been postponed pending conclusion of an armistice agreement with Egypt. Mr. Bunche called this action a “flagrant breach” of the Egyptian-Israeli agreement on the subject and expressed the opinion that such “arbitrary and unilateral action,” unless rectified quickly, would result in termination of the negotiations. Mr. Bunche, to save the negotiations, proposed a 48–hour extension, hoping that the Egyptians would stay on and that the, Israelis would be induced to honor their agreement (501.BB Palestine/1–2449).↩