501.BB Palestine/2–1149: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Special Representative of the United States in Israel (McDonald), at Tel Aviv
90. AP despatch datelined Jerusalem Feb 13 quotes PriMin Ben Gurion as follows:
Verbatim text. “In a brief but fiery speech he said that the commission had one direct instruction from the United Nations—the internationalization of Jerusalem. Therefore, he said, it was his duty on this occasion to tell them that ‘judgment on Jerusalem would not be given by them.’”
[Page 750]Pls endeavor ascertain whether this report textually accurate. Appreciate comments in light urtel 120 Feb. 12.1
- Not printed; it reported
that prior to receipt of Department’s telegram 83, February 10
(not printed, but see footnote 1 to memorandum of February 9,
p. 741), Mr. McDonald had called
on Mr. Shertok to express his personal concern lest the Israeli
Government take unilateral action affecting the status of
Jerusalem at the inaugural meetings of the Constituent Assembly.
Mr. Shertok, after informing him that the Provisional Government
of Israel was opposed to such action, summarized “the PGI position as desire work out
solution Jerusalem with UN.” (501.BB Palestine/2–1249)
Tel Aviv replied, on February 18, that the Palestine Post of February 14 had quoted the Prime Minister as saying: “But with all respect to Conciliatory [Conciliation] Commission of UN decision with regard to Jerusalem was made 3,000 years ago when Bel Yishai (King David) made Jerusalem the Jewish centre.” (Telegram 140, 501.BB Palestine/2–1849) Jerusalem, on February 14, cited the same issue of the Palestine Post, which quoted Mr. Ben-Gurion as saying additionally that “the living Jerusalem will not again accept any rule but that of its own people, Israel.” (Telegram 144, 501.BB Palestine/2–1449)
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