867N.01/7–149: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Egypt
659. Deptel 626 June 25 and Deptel 635 June 28. On June 24 Dept informally advised Israeli Emb USG anxious for Israelis and Egyptians to get together and discuss Gaza strip proposal. Dept also stated USG willing to facilitate such exchange of views either in New York or elsewhere.
Israeli Chargé July 1 informed Dept he had received message from Sharett stating Israeli Govt desirous begin proposed discussions with Egypt and anxious for assistance USG in bringing about conversation. Israeli Govt would prefer discussions take place Lake Success but willing consider any other arrangement agreeable to Egypt.
Dept realizes Emb has not yet received reply to Aide-Mémoire submitted per Deptel 635 June 18 [28]. If favorable reply received Dept desires Emb immediately approach FonOff and state discussions with Israelis have resulted in suggestion that informal discussions be held Lake Success between reps Egypt and Israel. You shld inquire whether Egypt Govt agreeable foregoing and repeat US offer to facilitate such discussions by all means at its disposal.
Dept instructing Emb London1 request Brit FonOff instruct Brit Emb Cairo concert with US Emb and strongly support US representations re Israeli-Egyptian discussions Lake Success if Egyptian Govt reply US Aide-Mémoire favorable.2
- In telegram 2300, July 1, 8 p. m., not printed.↩
- This telegram was repeated to New York. Chargé Patterson’s Aide-Mémoire, dated June 30, was presented to the Egyptian Foreign Minister on July 2 (telegrams 642, July 5, and 713, July 26, both from Cairo, 867N.01/7–549, 501.MA Palestine/7–2649). The Chargé conversed on the matter early in July with Under Secretary Hassouna. The latter was said to have “reacted vigorously my allegation that Israeli proposal concerning Gaza has been sole constructive measure advocated in respect of long-term aspect of refugee problem, stating that Arabs had expressed constructive views Lausanne as he intimated Ethridge and Hare both knew. He added that it was really for PCC to advance solutions to refugee problem. Hassouna was also hotly antagonistic to Israeli desire take possession additional territory as represented by Gaza-Rafa strip and expressed surprise that USG could regard such measure as constructive proposal. He evidently regarded it as an indication of Israeli predatory intent and, indeed, stated that as long as Israelis felt they could obtain American support, they would never accept any proposition from any quarter.” (telegram 649, July 7, from Cairo, 867N.01/7–749)↩