501.BB Palestine/9–149
Memorandum by the Secretary of State to the President
Subject: Policy with respect to Arms Shipments to the Arab States and Israel.
On November 14, 1947, the Department decided, in view of the situation in the Near East with respect to Palestine, that the issuance of licenses for the export of arms, ammunition and other war matériel intended for use in Palestine or neighboring countries should be suspended pending clarification of the situation in that area. This decision was made public in the Department’s press release of December 5, 1947. Subsequently the Security Council in its resolutions of May 29 and July 15, 1948, called upon all states to refrain from shipping war matériel to the affected area.
On August 11, 1949, the Security Council, in the light of reports submitted by Dr. Bunche, and a resolution introduced by Canada and France, determined that the armistice agreements which had been signed by Israel on the one hand, and Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria on the other, had superseded the truce arrangements, provided for by its resolutions, including the provisions with respect to the shipments of war matériel. The United States supported this action, and Senator Austin made a statement in the Security Council, the pertinent portion of which is quoted herewith:
“So far as the United States is concerned, it does not intend to allow the export of arms which would permit a competitive arms race in the area. Export of arms to this area of the world should be strictly limited to such arms as are within the scope of legitimate security requirements, again as recommended by Dr. Bunche. We hope that prudence will prevail not only among the parties but among all nations of the world which are in a position to supply arms and that they will pursue a policy similar to that which we intend to pursue.
It is essential that the resources of this area be used for works of peace, for economic development, for the resettlement of refugees, and for the achievement of higher standards of living for the populations of the area. It would be tragic and wholly wrong if the resources of the area were to be dissipated in an unproductive arms race.”
In view of the foregoing, the groundwork has now been laid to change the existing US arms export policy with respect to the Arab states and Israel. The Department has already received inquiries on this point and it is necessary that this Government’s arms export [Page 1342] policy be determined in order that such inquiries as are made may be answered.
Your approval is therefore requested for the following recommendations formulated with the above in view:
(1) That requests for the export of arms to the Arab states and Israel be considered and acted on in the light of the principles laid down by Senator Austin and existing US policy governing such exports generally. This would mean that arms shipments from the United States to Arab states and Israel would be limited to those which are determined necessary:
- (a)
- For the purpose of maintaining internal law and order by the Government concerned in the reasonable and legitimate exercise of constituted authority.
- (b)
- For the purpose of providing for reasonable requirements of self defense.
Shipments of arms to the affected areas will not be permitted by this Government if, in its opinion, such shipments would adversely affect the maintenance of peace and security in the area.1
(2) That informal discussions be initiated with representatives of the British and French Governments for an exchange of information and for consultations on shipments of arms to the Near Eastern area.
- A marginal notation states that President Truman approved Secretary Acheson’s memorandum on September 1. At the same time, he directed that “no public statement be made of this and that it be treated as a routine matter, becoming known as export approvals are made. Following such approvals, it is anticipated that questions will be raised at the President’s or the Secretary’s press conferences. They are to be answered casually.” (memorandum of September 4 to Mr. Ross by Thomas F. Power, Jr., Deputy Secretary-General of the United States Delegation at the United Nations, USUN files)↩