501.BB Palestine/7–2649: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State
priority
859. Eban at his request called on Ross late yesterday afternoon and discussed the following matters of which he said he understood the only one Elath was instructed to take up with the Secretary on Wednesday is the question of continuing the arms embargo.
[Here follow sections on the discussions at Lausanne, relations with Syria, and the arms embargo.]
4. Egyptian blockade.
Eban referred to the Egyptian practice of stopping shipping through Suez destined for Haifa. This practice he said was a severe economic handicap to Israel with regard, for example, to importation of meat from Australia and was also a severe handicap to the UK with particular reference to the passage of tankers from the Persian Gulf through Suez destined for the Haifa refineries. This forced the UK to use dollars to buy oil from dollar areas. The Israeli Government could not understand the Egyptian position in this matter. They considered the blockade an act of war rather than an armistice. On the other hand, the Egyptians who all along have denied the existence of [Page 1254] war, say the armistice terms do not in any way comprehend the blockade and that the blockade is a sovereign act of the Egyptian Government, that other governments have nothing to do with.
Because of the concern which the Israeli Government feels the UK Government shares with them in regard to this matter, Israeli representatives in London have been instructed to take this matter up with the UK authorities at London this week. They will seek to determine in the first instance whether there is any truth in the rumors that the Egyptian Government has given assurances that there will be no more searches of shipping going through Suez and destined for Haifa. If there is no truth in these rumors, the Israeli representatives will seek to determine the UK view of what might be done to get the blockade lifted.1
- These
last two paragraphs were quoted in airgram 839, August 1, to
London, with a request that the Embassy “keep Dept fully
informed as possible results Israeli-UK discussions referred
to.” The airgram was sent also to Cairo and Tel Aviv (501.BB
Palestine/8–149).
Messrs. Boss and Eban discussed the questions of the arms embargo and of the Egyptian blockade on August 1. Concerning the latter, Mr. “Eban said Israeli Minister in London had also discussed this with Bevin, pointing out the inconsistency of Egypt receiving arms from the UK on the basis that peace exists in Palestine while maintaining the blockade on the basis of war existing. Bevin was reported as having told Israeli Minister that UKG had made representations to Egyptian Government but had not yet received response. Eban expressed hope that UK representative would refer to Egyptian blockade and desirability of lifting it in SC.” (telegram 875, August 1, 1:59 p. m., from New York, 501.BB Palestine/8–149)
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