350/2–2750: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Delegation to the Trusteeship Council, at Geneva1
261. For USTC. Dept Feb 27 discussed with Israeli Amb tel from Eban to Elath in which former suggested desirability US initiative in advocating consultations in Geneva between Israel, Jordan and TC on Jerusalem statute limited to Holy Places only. Elath had asked for Dept’s reaction this suggestion.
Dept stated US welcomed informal discussions between parties interested in Jerusalem problem. However with regard to statute limited to Holy Places, recalled this was where US and Israeli positions had diverged in Fourth GA. US had believed PCC proposals best solution but had been defeated in GA and was now collaborating with TC in work of carrying out instrs given TC by GA. US had consistently encouraged Israel to undertake informal negots with interested parties, including Vatican, and hoped agreement cld thus be reached between Jordan and Israel and Christian world. Failing such agreement and view US position re Jerusalem regime and collaboration with TC in present task, US not in position to take initiative along lines suggested by Eban. This particularly so view fact Eban suggestion did not involve initiative in favor of an agreement reached among principal parties but only initiative in favor of discussions re possibility agreement on limited basis suggested in advance. Dept also suggested Eban proposal might involve formal action of some kind by TC, such as establishing subcomite for discussions with reps Jordan and Israel, and that this wld inevitably raise question whether discussions for purpose envisaged wld be compatible with TC terms reference.
- This telegram was repeated to London, Tel Aviv, Amman, and Jerusalem.↩