811.22767N/3–2449
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Satterthwaite) to the Secretary of State
Subject: Proposed modification of policy to permit limited number of officers from Israel and Arab States to be trained in U.S.
Discussion:
Since the imposition of the embargo on the shipment of arms to the Near East because of the Palestine conflict, the Department has followed [Page 864] the policy of turning down requests from the Arab States and Israel for training of officers of their military services, in the United States. Although such a policy was not explicit in the arms embargo or the Security Council Truce resolutions of May 29 and July 15, 1948, it was felt that it was consistent with our policy of not giving military advantage to either side.
It is believed that the time has now come to reconsider this policy for the following reasons:
- 1)
- Armistice agreements have been signed between Israel and Egypt and Israel and Lebanon. Armistice talks are now in progress between Israel and Transjordan (the latter is now in the process of arranging to take over Iraqi military positions in Palestine) and will start shortly between Israel and Syria. It is hoped that these negotiations will preclude any major renewal of hostilities in Palestine.
- 2)
- The Arab States have recently shown a desire for closer relations with the West, and have renewed their requests for permission to send trainees to the United States.
- 3)
- Israel, despite her announced policy of neutrality between the East and West, has requested permission to send a certain number of officers to the United States for training. Giving such permission would be one way of encouraging Israel towards a Western orientation.
- 4)
- Great Britain and France already have student officer missions from some of the Arab States in training, and neither of these powers has seen anything inconsistent between its actions in this respect and its obligations under the various UN truce resolutions for Palestine.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that our present policy be changed to permit the sending of officer student training missions from Israel and the Arab States, in reasonable numbers, consistent with the ability of the various services to handle such missions.
[Here follow concurrences.]