Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/2–1449: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Special Representative of the United States in Israel (McDonald), at Tel Aviv

secret
niact
Washington, February 14, 1949—8 p. m.

us urgent

88. Please call at once on FonMin and make following oral communication:

Eban Feb. 11 at own request called on Deputy US Rep UN NY quoting Shertok to effect that armistice negotiations on Rhodes had [Page 749] narrowed down “to details” and that successful outcome could be expected. Eban told USRep re Auja that compromise being worked out to neutralize area with Jewish and Egyptian defensive forces in roughly equal strength outside area. Re Beersheba Eban understood Israel striking forces would withdraw, leaving defensive forces roughly equal to combined Egyptian-Arab Legion forces in that area.1

In contrast to this info officially communicated by Rep of PGI, US member PCC received memo Feb 11 from Bunche indicating that Israel Delegation was adamant in refusing withdrawal from Beer sheba and in not accepting UN neutral zone arrangement for Auja.2

Dept today inquired of Epstein if he could reconcile these conflicting reports. Epstein said he had heard of Eban’s conversation but had had no direct word from Tel Aviv.

Dept stressed earnest hope of this Govt that Eban’s report cited above is correct and that PGI has wisely decided make concessions re Beersheba and Auja which seemed to be principal stumbling blocks to successful agreement.

Please telegraph report your interview with FonMin and repeat to Ethridge.

Repeated to Cairo as Unpal 27 for Ethridge. Repeated USUN as 80.

Acheson
  1. This information was based on telegram 166, February 11, 2 p. m., from New York (501.BB Palestine/2–1149).↩
  2. This information was based on telegram 133 (identified also as Palun 37), February 11, 10 p. m., from Jerusalem. It quoted Mr. Bunche’s memorandum to Mr. Ethridge, which stated that Colonel Yadin had informed Mr. Bunche that the reason the Israelis insisted “on complete freedom in the eastern sector of the Negev is because of the bargaining they expect to be forced to do in order to reach an agreement with Abdullah.” (501.BB Palestine/2–1149)↩