Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/6–1849: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Legation in Switzerland

secret
priority
niact
Washington, June 18, 1949—11 a. m.

Unpal 155. For US Del Lausanne. For Hare. After fullest consultation Ethridge, Dept concludes useful purpose wld be served by proposing adjourn PCC for two or three week period, during which delegations wld have fresh opportunity consult their govts with view to advancing constructive proposals upon reconvening Lausanne.

During adjournment, Jlem comite, technical comite on refugees, and genl political comite wld continue their work. Members PCC wld be subject to recall upon request either side. Both parties wld of course be entirely free to conduct direct or indirect negots. Despite adjournment, PCC and USG wld under no circumstances tolerate resort to force by either side.

Pls telegraph your comments on this proposal. If you concur in it Dept will seek Pres’s agreement and thereafter approach Ankara and Paris requesting their support and suggesting they so instruct their reps Lausanne.1

Webb
  1. Mr. Hare, in reply on June 20, raised the “question of exactly what we could hope to achieve by such a step. Eytan has just returned from consultation with his government and Sharett’s speech would hardly presage changed policy. Arab delegates here continue keep refugees doggedly to fore but they are split wide open on territorial issue and would be hard put to discuss territory even if refugee obstacle removed. In face these basic substantive differences it is difficult to see how short recess and reconvening here would further settlement as far as parties are concerned. Furthermore renewed contact French and Turkish PCC members with their governments could hardly be expected yield productive results. This leads to conclusion that, unless Department itself foresees possibility of using interim to advantage, probability is that negotiations would be renewed here on essentially same basis as present impasse except that by that time I hope, Ethridge successor would have been appointed. Should such be the case I find it difficult to see what would have been gained and would suggest that in that event further consideration be given to original idea of recess until August 15 in order make use of GA pressure where other expedients have failed.

    Basic fact of course is that neither side actually ready for peace at this time.” (telegram 974, identified also as Palun 220, from Bern, 501.BB Palestine/6–2049)

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