501.BB Palestine/2–549: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Special Representative of the United States in Israel (McDonald), at Tel Aviv1
us urgent
niact
75. Pursuant to formal request of Israeli Govt Jan 282 for good offices this Govt in assisting Israel and Egypt to arrive at compromise in armistice negots Rhodes, this Govt approached Egyptian Govt with Israeli proposal related to El Auja.
Pls call on PriMin and leave memo in fol sense:
- 1)
- As member of UN PCC and as friendly govt which has been officially requested by Israel to use its good offices to end present impasse in armistice negots, US has approached Egypt in sense requested by Israel.
- 2)
- Although unaware of Israeli counter-proposals to Mediator’s suggested compromise of Jan 31, USG informed Egypt has accepted compromise in principle, subject only to minor modifications.
- 3)
- In same spirit of friendship with which it approached Egypt at Israeli request, USG now desires state earnest hope that Israeli Govt will be able make special effort at accommodation in order accept Bunche draft as possible basis of agreement, particularly in view of action apparently taken by Egypt in this sense. End memo.
On Feb 5, with knowledge and approval of President, I informed Epstein that Pres was deeply concerned by possibility breakdown Rhodes negotiations. I said we had been informed that Egypt had accepted Bunche proposal, with certain reservations, but that Eban had told USUN that Israeli Govt could not accept proposal. Pres believed this was psychological moment when armistice could be achieved without injury to vital interests of parties, if Israeli Govt would approach these discussions in spirit of broad statesmanship and make concessions which were wholly in accord with moral position of Israel. I hoped, therefore, that Israeli Govt would not reject Bunche proposals but would accept them as basis for further discussion and work out armistice along lines proposed. It seemed to me that with conciliatory attitude on both sides solution could be reached but if negotiations failed and matter reported to SC, position of Israel, both morally and otherwise, would be prejudiced.
Epstein said views of Pres would be pondered with great respect. I could assure Pres that in his opinion negotiations would not break down and that as he understood it Israeli Govt was not flatly refusing [Page 731] Mediator’s proposal but was finding difficulty for security reasons in agreeing to remove its forces from certain places.
[Here follows last paragraph concerning the call later that day by the Egyptian Ambassador.]