Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

501.BB Palestine/8–1549: Telegram

The Consul at Jerusalem (Burdett) to the Secretary of State

confidential

Jerusalem, August 15, 1949—3 p. m.

519. MAC meeting yesterday considered Jordan complaint re expulsion by Israel of Arabs from triangle territory taken over by Israel under terms armistice agreement (Amman’s 136, July 18¹). According to Riley Israel took position would not permit return any Arabs expelled except as part of general solution refugee problem at Lausanne. These Arabs would be included in 100,000 Arabs. In personal conversation with Captain Ali Nuwar, Jordan representative, in presence of MAC Chairman Ballentine² Dayan stated Nuwar could bring question to vote in MAC and force Israel repatriate expellees but “they would regret it if they returned”. Riley commented to Consul General that although Israel position direct violation armistice agreement he hesitated advise Ballentine to force vote since would not be responsible for treatment accorded returning Arabs. He considered this typical example tactic negotiating by threat and admitted UN powerless determine whether Arabs, if they returned, received fair treatment.

Believe above incident throws further light on true value proposal repatriate 100,000 Arabs.

Sent Department 519; repeated Tel Aviv 1, Baghdad 51, Beirut 101, Damascus 57, London 4, Geneva for USDel PCC 50, pouched Amman, Cairo, Jidda.

Burdett

1. Not printed.
2. Col. Samuel S. Ballentine of the United States Marine Corps, who was a United States Military Observer with the Truce Supervision Organization and who was designated by General Riley as Chairman of the Mixed Armistice Commission for Israel and Jordan.