Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/6–2049: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Legation in Switzerland

secret
priority
niact
Washington, June 21, 1949—3 p. m.

Unpal 161. For USDel Lausanne. For Hare. We have carefully considered ur views Palun 220, June 20.1 However we still believe recess preferable to present stalemate, as means endeavoring obtain objective set forth para 1 Unpal 155.2

Shorter recess after which PCC wld reconvene Lausanne about July 15 wld be preferable to longer adjournment, since latter might result in producing psychological atmosphere militating against further negots through PCC and wld probably remove any possibility activating Econ Survey Group for purposes GA action autumn session.

USG will utilize recess to continue its efforts obtain more cooperative attitude both sides and to brief Ethridge’s successor as soon as appointed.

Pls discuss foregoing and Unpal 155 with Boisanger and Yalcin, informing them we are approaching Paris and Ankara with view requesting them issue similar instructions their delegates PCC. Dept informing SYG its views.

[Page 1165]

If agreement your colleagues obtainable, you shld seek to begin recess weekend June 25 or soonest thereafter and proceed Washington immed.3

Webb
  1. Not printed, but see footnote 1, p. 1155.↩
  2. Dated June 18, to Bern, ibid .↩
  3. The Department, on June 21, transmitted the substance of Unpal 155 and 161 to Paris, except that it altered the wording of the second paragraph of the former message to read: “Members PCC wld emphasize that resort to force by either side during or after recess wld under no circumstances be tolerated by PCC or UN.” (telegram 2203, which was repeated to Ankara for action (501.BB Palestine/6–2149)). No 2203 was also sent to New York the following day as the basis for urgent discussion with Secretary-General Lie (telegram 328, 501.BB Palestine/6–2249).

    Mr. Lie and the French and Turkish Foreign Offices concurred with the American proposal, except that the French Foreign Office, without withdrawing its agreement, felt that the present was not an opportune time for a recess (telegrams 761, June 22, from New York; 2595, June 22, from Paris; and 285, June 25, from Ankara, all of which are filed under 501.BB Palestine).

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