867N.01/5–2049: Telegram
The Consul at Jerusalem (Burdett) to the Secretary of State
370. Day an called last night to discuss yesterday’s special committee sessions. Barco present. Committee meeting ended in complete deadlock and Dayan saw no prospects for agreement or usefulness in further negotiations. Asserted informally felt gloomier re prospects continued peace in Jerusalem than at any time since his arrival last August. Has advised Israeli Government to request UN to return Jewish sections Mt. Scopus to complete Israeli control under terms of agreement signed last July providing for UN protection on Mt. Scopus “until hostilities cease”. Then proposes inform Transjordan bluntly Israel intends to have free access by agreement or otherwise. Feels Transjordan bound by Article 8 of armistice agreement to grant free access and if refuses, Israel free take appropriate measures in view breach armistice.
[Page 1040]At committee meeting Dayan suggested agreement on following lines: Israel to receive Latrun salient in return for territory in Beit Nabala region, free access to Mt. Scopus; Arabs to receive free access to Bethlehem on main road, electricity for Old City, use Tulkarm-Qalqiliya road until new section in Arab territory constructed. Arabs demanded as essential addition point return of Arab quarters in Israel hands and stated willing allow Jews return Jewish quarter Old City. Dayan argued special committee should consider only questions specified in Article 8 of armistice agreement and territorial changes in Jerusalem should await peace treaty. However, if Arabs insisted on changes now willing consider return of Arab quarters in exchange for equivalent territory northern Jerusalem to connect Mt. Scopus with Jewish sections.1
Comment—Only thing Israel considers essential Jerusalem in immediate future and determined to have, is free access Mt. Scopus. At least possibility exists will use force rather than wait for peace conference decision. Dayan stated would launch propaganda campaign in US against Transjordan for failure permit free access to cultural and humanitarian institutions after agreeing to do so in principle at Rhodes. Main Arab wish is return Arab quarters and they realize principal bargaining weapon is Mt. Scopus.
During conversation I suggested to Dayan possibility general agreement covering all Jerusalem problems. He definitely preferred leave territorial matters to peace conference but agreed would consider general over-all settlement now provided Arabs make territorial adjustment in north in return for some, but not all, Arab quarters in south. Felt Arabs would maintain present adamant refusal give anything except free access to Mt. Scopus in return for Arab quarters.
Two possible solutions apparently exist, one—general settlement covering all problems affecting Jerusalem area. Might take following lines: Israel to receive Latrun salient, territory north of Jerusalem [Page 1041] built up area comprising land included in Hebrew University and Hadassah development plans and connecting with Jewish section of Sanhedriya, permission for Jews to return to Jewish quarter Old City with corridor through Mt. Zion assuring free access, free access to Wailing Wall and Jewish cemetery on Mt. Scopus. Arabs to receive territorial compensation in Latrun area in direction Beit Nabala, free use Nablus-Bethlehem Road, electricity for Old City and following sections southern Jerusalem: Mt. Zion, Deir Abu tor, Bakka, portion German colony, Ramat Eahel, Talpiyot, Allenby barracks, Alamein camp and section Beit Safafa now held by Jews. Exact size territory in both north and south Jerusalem subject to negotiations. Suggestion: uses as starting point areas now held, in belief neither UN nor US will force Israel start on basis areas held at end mandate. Consider above maximum Arabs can now expect receive Jerusalem and Department will note is considerably less than offered by Dayan last January. Israel building up old Arab quarters to increasing extent and populating them with new immigrants. Delay will make return Arab quarters progressively more difficult. Disadvantages proposal is that will take considerable time, involve major changes and exceed in scope task assigned special committee by armistice agreement.
Second—limited agreement to remain in effect only until permanent peace treaty signed. Israel to receive: Free access to Mt. Scopus, free use Latrun road. Arabs to receive: Free use Bethlehem road, electricity, free use Tulkarm-Qalqiliya road now in Jewish hands, free access to Arab College in Government House, neutral zone. Such agreement would meet principal Israeli demand and would conform to Article 8 Rhodes Armistice Agreement. Arabs would obtain considerable benefits but not their main desiratum. Would be simpler and easier to negotiate.
Consul General would appreciate learning which approach Department and USDel PCC consider preferable. Expect call Abdullah el Tel tomorrow with Barco and obtain his views on progress negotiations.2
Sent Department, repeated Amman 29, Geneva 12 (for USDel, PCC).
- Amman, on May 20, advised of information from Hashem Debbas, the King’s Chamberlain, that at the special committee meeting at Jerusalem on May 19, which lasted for 4 hours, the Israelis wished to discuss only two points—the Latrun salient and access to Scopus. Regarding the salient, the Israelis were said to be “only willing give in return use Bethlehem road. Transjordan representatives insisted that they would agree to both points only if Israel returned Arab quarters now Jerusalem. … Israelis indicated they would not consider any proposal relating to Jerusalem itself.” The Chamberlain informed that the next meeting would be held on May 29 but expressed doubt that progress would be made. Mr. Stabler commented that “Transjordan position re committee matters has stiffened considerably and no indication exists they propose modify stand. This Sue to difficulties caused by triangle agreement and by realization armistice precludes renewal hostilities by Israel to attain its ends. Moreover, government seems convinced it preferable to leave all negotiations this stage to Lausanne Conference and King apparently concurs this policy.” (Telegram 212, 867N.01/5–2049)↩
- Mr. Ethridge advised, on May 31, that the American Delegation at Lausanne “doubts final solution for Jerusalem can be reached while general Palestine question is under discussion at Lausanne. Pending presentation by PCC of Jerusalem plan called for in December 11 resolution, USDel perceives no objection to limited agreement mentioned urtel 370 provided agreed to by both parties and provided they understand it to be interim arrangement pending GA decision on Jerusalem area.” (telegram 829, identified also as Palun 179, from Bern, 501.BB Palestine/5–3149)↩