501.BB Palestine/6–1149: Telegram
The Minister in Syria (Keeley) to the Secretary of State
322. Views in Deptel 238, June 81 delivered to Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Arslan 1 p. m. today. He asked me to thank Department for its advice but said its interest in seeking cause of peace in Palestine might be more effective if weight its influence were brought to bear upon Israel to respect its international engagements and thus help create atmosphere favorable to armistice and peace negotiations.
Contending that as small area Palestine territory now occupied by Syria was taken in fighting against Israeli before truce whereas Israel holds unchallenged vast areas occupied during truce, suggested demilitarization on Syrian front is scarcely equitable measure. Arslan admitted current Bunche proposal nevertheless seemed to offer best basis yet suggested for discussion and he had accordingly authorized Syrian delegation to reenter negotiations. However, as experience has taught Syrians to be wary of any agreement that depends upon Israeli respect for UN guarantees he thought moment inpropitious to hope for agreement. Even Bunche must consider it unfortunate that Israeli had chosen this time to underscore their cynical disregard for their pledged word by entering and fortifying demilitarized Government House zone in Jerusalem.
This latest aggression took place, said Arslan, even while Bunche in personal message to Zaim earnestly appealed for most serious and sympathetic consideration his draft proposals assuring him that “UN responsibility over territory in proposed demilitarized zone gives adequate protection to Syrian interests” and citing Government House among others as example of UN demilitarized area which “gives convincing proof that such arrangements work well and give full protection to rights and claims of interested parties.” Bunche must today be sadly disillusioned man, said Arslan.
Typical of their incomprehensible arrogance latest Israeli aggression has not only jeopardized Syrian Israeli armistice negotiations, but [Page 1120] has put wind up in all Arab circles, said Arslan. Added he has warned other Arab capitals that Government House may be first move in conquest of Jerusalem itself if not remainder of Palestine which now effectively within Israeli control.
As Prime Minister Zaim had shortly before my call on Arslan expressed similar views to Foreign Minister I feel that no useful purpose would be served by seeking to deliver Department’s message to Zaim or otherwise trying further to pressurize Syrians into accepting Bunche proposal until some effective means are found and applied to guarantee Israeli respect for its engagements and for UN authority. To pressurize Syrians in face of Israeli action at Government House (Jerusalem’s Contel 401, June 72 and sequence to Department) would I feel sure be interpreted by Syrians only as further evidence of our alleged pro-Israeli attitude and weaken such influence as we still have with them which might better be reserved for more propitious moment such as when Israel itself can be brought to show more accommodating spirit. My French colleague, with whom I am keeping close contact, fully shares my views in this regard. Zaim told him that while inclined to accept Bunche proposal if Israeli respect for UN guaranteed pledges better assured than recent unfortunate experience has given reason to expect, he is disinclined to commit Syria before presidential referendum June 25 (mytel 315, June 8).2 To do so might well cause disturbing repercussions which he is not prepared to risk during crucial pre-election period.
[Here follow four paragraphs dealing primarily with Mr. Arslan’s denunciation of Israel’s aggressive attitude.]
If despite unfavorable atmosphere indicated above Department desires me to urge upon Zaim acceptance Bunche proposal it would be helpful to have its reasons why Syria should not let Government House incident influence its acceptance of similar UN guarantee of proposed demilitarized areas on Syrian-Israeli frontier.3
Sent Department 322, repeated Baghdad 61, Beirut 72, Jerusalem 48, London 84, Paris 68, Tel Aviv 37, Amman 32, Ankara 44, Bern for PCC 13, Cairo 41, Jidda 26.
Department pass Army, Navy, Air.
- Not printed, but see footnote 1 to telegram 347, June 8, p. 1102.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed.↩
- The Department, in reply on June 16, directed Damascus to “urge upon Zaim acceptance Bunche proposal” and to “point out that as result intervention such officials UN as Bunche and Riley Israeli troops have now been withdrawn” from the Government House area (telegram 248, 501.BB Palestine/6–1149).↩