501.BB Palestine/3–249: Telegram
The Consul at Jerusalem (Burdett) to the Secretary of State
177. Palun 62. On March 1 Commission telegraphed Foreign Ministers seven Arab League states that, wishing pave way for general settlement Palestine question and reestablishment of peace, had decided to invite governments of Arab states to send representatives for purpose preliminary exchange views with Commission. Exchange views would concern refugee problem, solution of which was matter of urgency, and might eventually, if desire were expressed in course of conversation, be extended to other questions.1 Commission considered [Page 786] owing ease of communications, Beirut would be particularly suited to serve as place of meeting and that March 21 would be suit able for opening. Commission requested Foreign Ministers to communicate whether agreeable and to inform names of representatives.
Commission representatives each agreed that its government would be requested inform respective missions at Arab capitals re invitation and to urge that Arab Governments accept invitation as means of cooperating with Commission and facilitating progress toward peace in Near East.
If Department approves, ITS Delegation suggests US Missions at Arab capitals be instructed accordingly.2
- Mr. Shiloah, in a conversation with Mr. McDonald on February 28 (reported in telegram 164, March 1, from Tel Aviv, not printed; 501.BB Palestine/3–149), had advised of his Government’s warning to the Palestine Conciliation Commission about holding an all-Arab conference on refugees on the grounds that no solution for the problem would be produced; that no Arab State would dare to take a cooperative position at the conference; and that the conference would develop into a political gathering where the Arabs would harden their attitudes against an armistice and a peace settlement (telegram 167, March 1, from Tel Aviv, 867N.01/3–149). The Commission decided to go ahead with the conference, however, since “such step might facilitate progress toward peace and risk would be fully justified. In fact committee [Commission] feeling is that there is no other approach possible at the moment,” (Telegram 1991, identified also as Palun 73, March 7, noon, from Jerusalem, 501.BB Palestine/3–749)↩
- The Department, in a circular telegram of March 3, 5 a. m., to Cairo, Jidda, Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus, and Amman, instructed the diplomatic officers at those posts to take appropriate action along the lines of the second paragraph of telegram 177 (501.BB Palestine/3–349).↩