501.BB Palestine/5–1949: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Legation in Switzerland 1
655. For Ethridge. Israeli Amb Elath, discussing Arab refugees May 19 with McGhee, stated his Govt is in full agreement with USG that both repatriation and resettlement are required for solution of problem. He stated, however, that Israel not in position define number to be repatriated prior (1) formal conclusion peace and (2) assurances that plans have been made for resettlement fixed number, with necessary financing. If Israel repatriated portion and remainder were not resettled, security problem would be aggravated rather than relieved, and remainder Arabs wld insist on repatriation as well.
McGhee pointed out we consider repatriation substantial number, not merely token number, required to obtain favorable atmosphere for Arab cooperation in resettlement remainder, and to reduce problem to number capable assimilation on self-sustaining basis in Arab states within reasonable period. Only on basis agreement repatriation and resettlement adequate numbers cld PCC formulate plan for resettlement. It is obvious that USG, in responding to any request from PCC or UN, cld not agree extend assistance in support plan which it considers unworkable, and we consider resettlement number approaching 700,000 an unworkable plan.
McGhee agreed with Elath that problem was three-sided consisting agreement by Israel repatriation given number, agreement by Arabs resettlement given number, and formulation resettlement plan involving outside assistance. McGhee stated that agreement re repatriation appeared necessary first step in overcoming present impasse, but to be realistic considered it possible that agreement on all three points might be reached simultaneously at Lausanne. US considers that responsibility for problem rests with UN and PCC. Comment: it is believed Elath sought to convey that Israel prepared talk numbers for repatriation as soon as assurance received that Arabs wld agree resettlement remainder and outside financial assistance forthcoming. Financial assistance repatriation not discussed.
- This telegram was repeated to London and Tel Aviv.↩