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

867N.01/2–149: Telegram

The Consul at Jerusalem (Burdett) to the Secretary of State

confidential
niact
urgent

Jerusalem, February 1, 1949—9 p. m.

94. Following announcement issued by Public Information Office tonight:

At its meeting yesterday the Cabinet decided to terminate the military governorship of Jerusalem and to institute in that city governmental arrangements obtaining in other parts of the State of Israel.

“On the 2nd of August, 1948, the Government proclaimed that all laws of the State of Israel apply to the area of Jerusalem under Israeli occupation, and in view of the conditions prevailing at the time, the Government then deemed it necessary to establish the military governorship in the city.”

Initial local public reaction is that announcement tantamount to annexation Jewish sections city Jerusalem to State of Israel.¹

Sent Department 94; repeated Amman 7.

Burdett

1. Foreign Minister Shertok informed Mr. McDonald of this action and explained, “to avoid international misunderstanding,” that it “was administrative and not annexation of Jerusalem.” (telegram 78, February 1, 6 p. m., from Tel Aviv, 867N.01/2–149)