501.BB Palestine/7–149: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Israel
420. Ur 495 June 28. Rusk in talk with Israeli Chargé discussed territorial compensation to interested Arab states in accordance President’s formula which well known to you.
Suggestion re Israeli-Egyptian talks applied specifically to Gaza strip proposal. Rusk foresaw such talks might lead to broader discussions with Egypt and possibly conversations with other Arab states.
Dept would not discourage bilateral negotiations freely entered into by Israel and Arab states according terms GA res Dec 11 and unaccompanied by attempts coercion. Dept’s suggestion Abdullah subject Deptel 330 June 11 made view circumstances surrounding previous bilateral Israeli-Jordan talks resulting Israeli occupation additional area triangle, necessity give maximum support PCC at crucial moment, and possibility Israel and Jordan might reach agreement re Jerusalem which would exclude international and Christian interest that city.
Dept hopes you will not allow Israeli officials evaluation of tenor of US reply to give them impression that US Govt does not attach most grave importance to points made in US notes. What was Herlitz reply to your remarks re refugees?
Dept has no info re “US and UN emergency refugee relief financial proposals”. Broadcast may have been based upon SYG Lie’s urgent appeal to UN members for more contributions UNRPR.2
- Not printed, but see footnote 1 to telegram 72, June 1, p. 1082.↩
- Ambassador McDonald replied on July 5 that he was grateful for the clarification of the Department’s position regarding bilateral negotiations. He advised further that “Government here has repeatedly insisted it has never used threats in Israel-Transjordan negotiations. Israel officials do not misinterpret Deptel 379, June 18 as weakening of USG position President’s note May 28. I stress every opportunity that USG attaches ‘most grave importance to points made in US note’ and leave no room for doubt. Re Dept’s question Deptel 420 Herlitz’s reply my refugee remarks (Embtel 495, June 28), she remained silent” (telegram 513 from Tel Aviv, 501.BB Palestine/7–549) Telegram 379 is not printed, but see footnote 2, p. 1156.↩