501.BB Palestine/8–549: Telegram
Mr. Paul A. Porter to the Secretary of State
priority
Palun 265. PCC has asked principal advisers, meeting in private and not as general committee, to draw up informal proposals concerning territory allocation of refugees and Jerusalem which PCC might consider submitting to parties as basis discussion. Jerusalem proposal will be plan drawn up by Jerusalem Committee.
First meeting revealed following re territory:
- (1)
-
French representative stated French Delegation and French Government had specific ideas concerning territorial settlement. French Government desired not to offend either Jewish minority in Trance or Moslem population French empire. French representative, accordingly, most reluctant participate in any discussions re territory. Was only persuaded to do so when it was pointed out that any plan drawn up would be informal personal suggestion of advisers and that it would not necessarily be accepted by PCC or by Governments of members of PCC.
Despite above statement of French representative, there have been indications here that French Delegation PCC has been encouraging Lebanese Delegation to advocate trusteeship over western Galilee.
- (2)
-
Under instructions his government, Turkish principal adviser “has drawn up plan involving transfer of Negev to Egypt and Transjordan below line Deir el Balah–Asluj–31st parallel–Transjordan frontier. Turkish plan would also transfer to Lebanon and Syria eastern Galilee above horizontal line between Lebanon and Syrian borders just north Lake Hula and would return to Transjordan areas in triangle given up during Israeli–Transjordan armistice negotiations, as well as some territory in LyddA–Ramle area but not towns of Ramie and Lydda.
Turkish principal adviser and apparently Turkish Foreign Office convinced would be easier for Jews to give up Negev than all eastern or western Galilee. Yenisey states Turkish plan would maintain desired Arab territorial continuity, give Transjordan corridors to sea at Deir el Balah and create buffer between Egypt and Israel.
- (3)
- I have authorized US principal adviser to advocate
territorial distribution based upon judgment of prospects of
acceptances and defensibility. This proposal is not intended
to represent any appraisal of objective factors of
geographic, economic, ethnic or other considerations.
[Page 1287]
It is simply put
forward as possible basis of expedient settlement. Would
appreciate soonest comments and instructions. Proposal
follows:
- (a)
- Area enclosed by line from Mediterranean coast at Deir el Balah to juncture thirtieth parallel and Egyptian Palestine border to be transferred to Egypt. Remainder Gaza strip to go to Israel.
- (b)
- Area enclosed by line running from northern-most tip present Transjordan controlled area central Palestine to juncture Jordan River–Palestine–Transjordan frontier to be transferred to Transjordan.
- (c)
- Triangle areas taken over by Israel during Israeli-Transjordan armistice negotiations to be returned to Transjordan up to point just south of juncture HaderA–Afula road and 1947 partition frontier between Israel and Arab Palestine.
- (d)
- Area now held by Transjordan in south central Palestine to be extended westward to include towns of Beitjibrin and Qubeiba, and westwards outward and eastward to line running from Dead Sea to eastern boundary between Israel and Arab Palestine under 1947 partition, half-way between southern partition boundary Israel and central Arab Palestine and present southern-most penetration Transjordan forces in central Palestine.
- (e)
- Israel to retain western Galilee.
Above general position does not include such points as Latrun salient, Mt. Scopus and demarcation lines Jerusalem, agreement on which might be reached separately by Transjordan and Israel.