501.MA Palestine/7–1949: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Legation in Switzerland
[Unpal] 198. For USDel Lausanne. Pls inform your colleagues PCC re fol and if they agree proceed as follows:
On basis Cairo tel 689, July 19,1 rpted to Bern, Abdul Moneim [Page 1244] Mustafa Bey expressed willingness discuss Gaza proposal in presence PCC. While obvious intent is summary rejection proposal, you and your colleagues shld take initiative privately to raise question with him on basis reftel, expressing appreciation his willingness undertake discussions and pointing out that USG, in making proposal for such discussions, held no brief for any specific locale for discussions but merely suggested Lake Success as convenient meeting place during recess. Now that PCC has reconvened, his suggestion conduct talks Lausanne quite proper. If he shld raise objection that Gaza proposal not in accord with May 12 protocol, you shld emphasize that protocol’s primary intent was to create technique under which negots cld be extended to cover all issues outstanding under Dec 11 res, and that therefore any reasonable proposals put forward shld be given serious attention. Regardless of whether he intends enter into pro forma or substantive discussions Gaza, you shld inform him you and your colleagues prepared immediately approach Israeli del privately with view ascertaining whether it prepared make territorial compensation for Gaza strip of character which PCC cld consider equitable for presentation to Egyptians, and what guarantees it has in mind for refugees and residents along lines set forth para 1 Unpal 133, June 4.
If progress made in private discussions, it is anticipated Israeli del shld then add proposal for such equitable territorial compensation and foregoing guarantees to its May 20 Gaza strip proposal (Document AR/12, May 232) in PCC meeting and that Arabs shld then formally discuss proposal in PCC meeting.
Palun 246 July 20 just received. We assume Abdul Moneim meant Egypt cld not discuss Gaza publicly at this stage. In view his assurances to US Chargé Cairo, however, pls proceed along lines foregoing.3
- Not printed; it reported at length on conversations held at Alexandria by Chargé Patterson with British Ambassador Campbell, Acting Chief of the Royal Cabinet Hassan Youssef, Foreign Minister Kashaba, Secretary General of the Arab League Azzam, Mustafa Bey, and the Egyptian Finance Minister on July 15, 16, and 17. The conversations dealt with the Gaza strip proposal. The Chargé advised that all those consulted found little to approve in the proposal; while Egyptian officials “denounced it as forerunner Israel aggression against Gaza, expressing great surprise and I may add contemptuous surprise that the government of a great nation such as US should lend itself to such disreputable scheme.” After describing his various conversations, the Chargé commented: “From foregoing lengthy and perhaps repetitious recital Department may find cumulative evidence not only of total lack of Egyptian faith in any proposal emanating from Israel but also a growing suspicion of inability or unwillingness of USG to view Palestine controversy impartially. This may serve to amplify and clarify reference to USG’s complaisant partiality to Israel mentioned in concluding paragraph Embtel 669, July 13, which was designed to emphasize a certain lack of realism on Egypt’s part. I fear that continued harping on merits of Gaza plan which are completely invisible to Arab eyes, may cause Egyptians to view USG as an accomplice of an expansionist and aggressive Israel and impair, if not destroy nascent cordiality which Egyptian officials and others have been showing toward US and its citizens and interests in interval since conclusion February 24 armistice. It is not pleasant to see practices of one’s government treated with the very real intellectual and moral disdain evident in minds and indeed on lips of ranking officials of a foreign government.” The Chargé concluded that “should Department be able guarantee Egypt territorial compensation sufficient provide land bridge between Egypt Jordan, Egypt I believe might adopt more conciliatory attitude toward proposed settlement.” (501.MA Palestine/7–1949) Regarding 669, see footnote 2 to telegram 701, July 14, p. 1229.↩
- AR/12 was a memorandum of the Palestine Conciliation Commission, which transmitted to the Delegations of the Arab States at Lausanne a summary of the proposals and suggestions made by the Israeli Delegation oh May 20 (IO files). The Israeli proposals and suggestions are set forth in telegram 769, May 20, from Bern, p. 1036.↩
- This telegram was repeated to Cairo. The formal rejection by the Egyptian Government of the United States proposals was made in the form of an undated aide-mémoire handed to Chargé Patterson on July 25 (telegram 713, July 26. 9 a. m.). The Department replied on August 4, stating that “Although Dept cannot agree with contentions in Egyptian reply it is believed undesirable to continue to press Egyptian Govt re Gaza strip proposal. Proper focus of discussion this subject now appears to be Lausanne.” (telegram 778, repeated to Bern for the American Delegation at Lausanne) Both telegrams are filed under 501.MA Palestine/7–2649.↩