501.BB Palestine/6–1549: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Vincent) to the Secretary of State
939. Palun 208. From Hare. At PCC general committee meeting June 14 Sassoon and Hirsch dispelled any hope which Eytan’s statements (reference Palun 205[204?1]) might have contained.
Agenda consisted points 1 and 2 in Palun 166 and point 3 in Palun 165.2
[Page 1143]Re point 1 Sassoon stated Israelis were unable consider refugee return separately but only in context of whole peace settlement consequently immediate return was not possible. Israelis would, on other hand, take certain limited steps to preserve Arab property in orange groves. Sassoon indicated however, Israel had general economic plan for Israel which might provide for only certain acreage in orange groves. Some Arab groves including those lacking care or destroyed by war would probably be put to other use.
Re point 2, Sassoon indicated present Israeli currency regulations would prevent unblocking of Arab accounts. Sassoon suggested International Red Cross might make use of Arab accounts within Israel which would permit use of equivalent amount International Red Cross money outside Israel for refugees.
Israeli delegation stressed answers were preliminary as both points are still “under sympathetic consideration in Tel Aviv”.3
Re point 3, as result long involved discussion it became clear Israelis do not consider this Arab proposal on basis May 12 protocol as basis for negotiation of either refugee or territorial question (reference Palun 1694). Arabs consider Israeli territorial proposals in Palun’s 1625 and 1736 as violation of May 12 protocol. Result is deadlock.
Sent Department 939, repeated Paris 58 for Jessup. [Hare.]
- Identified also as telegram 577, June 14, from Geneva, p. 1135.↩
- Both dated May 23, from Lausanne, pp. 1044 and 1043 respectively.↩
- The Department commented, on June 20, that the
use of blocked Arab accounts in the manner suggested in point
two of the Sassoon statement “appears clear violation spirit of
GA Res Dec 11. Even if state
claims right confiscate property own citizens, applicable
portions GA Res based on equity
as well as law and refugees fleeing from war seem to have
position equivalent aliens whose property entitled protection.
“[The question of] Blocked accounts presents more clearcut case but different only in degree from that of orange groves discussed under point 1. Shld be made clear no implication condoning any misuse Arab property contrary to principles law or equity.” (Telegram Unpal 157 to Bern, repeated to Tel Aviv, 501.BB Palestine/6–2049)
↩ - Identified also as telegram 819, May 28, from Bern, p. 1067.↩
- Dated May 23, from Lausanne, not printed, but see footnote 2, p. 1036.↩
- Identified also as telegram 820, May 28, from Bern, p. 1068.↩