357.AC/6–2050: Telegram
The Ambassador in Israel (McDonald) to the Secretary of State
465. Re Depcirtel June 16, 6 p. m. [a. m.]1 Embassy comments:
I Arab charge PCC has “failed” is true because:
- a.
- it has not moderated demands of Arabs or Jews;
- b.
- has not made any progress towards negotiations;
- c.
- its organization and portion of its personnel (Boisanger and Azcarate) are self-defeating.
II Arabs demands for “unconditional refugee return” prior to discussion of possible negotiations on other issues seem based on:
- a.
- complete ignorance of Israel policy and possibilities, or;
- b.
- vain hope Israel will collapse economically, or;
- c.
- disguised but firm determination to use delay to prepare for “second round”.
III Arabs fail understand that world Jewry’s economic aid will continue and Israel’s own efforts will prevent collapse.
IV Israel’s intransigence re refugee return or compensation is strengthened if Arab failure recognize refugee concessions as integral part of overall peace settlement.
V Present position is worse than impasse because Israel-Arab relations are worsening as also are relations among Arabs themselves and towards US and UK. (This last shown by Egypt’s, Saudi Arabia’s and Iraq’s suspicious reactions to 3-power declaration.)
VI NE peace and security demand radical new approach which should include:
- a.
- replacement of PCC by 1-man medium or not hampered by an advisory commission and particularly not by commission composed of national representatives responsible to their own governments;
- b.
- naming of strong personality, such as Riley, with conciliation powers comparable those of Bunche;
- c.
- utilization of strengthened existing MAC’s as negotiation bodies.
VII If politically impracticable implement VI in near future, PCC should immediately:
- a.
- concentrate on only hopeful point, e.g., Israel-Jordan negotiations, and;
- b.
- under no circumstances attempt negotiations now re refugees Compensation because prior to tentative agreement on frontier talks of compensation are meaningless. Moreover, PCC’s futile discussion compensation now would confuse beginning of PRA’s work.
VIII PCC is condemned by own record and irrespective of personalities or national or UN pride should be scrapped by next UNGA. To continue this body would discredit UN and states represented on PCC and block other means toward peace. Ethridge, Porter and now Palmer have struggled valiantly but vainly against inherent organizational defects and inertia and bureaucracy of their colleagues which have made PCC mockery in NE.2
Sent Department 465, repeated info Jerusalem 45 for Riley, Department pass info Cairo 91, Geneva for Palmer 36, London 97, Moscow 31, pouched Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus, Jidda.
- Not printed; but see footnote 1 to telegram 730 from Geneva, p. 931.↩
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Consulate General Jerusalem, on June 22, expressed a “pessimistic outlook for successful outcome of mediation work and it is felt that CCP should return to Lake Success for preparation of its report rather than remain in Geneva or ME area. Continuance organization in ME may hinder other UN organizations work.” (Telegram 135, 357.AC/6–2250)
The Department of State, on June 28, informed the U.S. Delegation to the Palestine Conciliation Commission that it concurred in the unanimous decision of the Commission to move to Jerusalem. It also noted that the advantages of the presence of the Commission in the Near East might well outweigh any disadvantages and suggested it was prepared to support new endeavors (telegram 778, identified also as Unpal 257, to Geneva, 357.AC/6–2850).
The Palestine Conciliation Commission, on July 4, addressed a letter to the Egyptian, Israeli, Jordanian, Lebanese, and Syrian Governments in which it announced suspension of its meetings at Geneva on July 15, because it had reached an impasse there, and their resumption at Jerusalem early in August, to have the opportunity for first-hand contact with these governments. The text of the letter was sent to the Department of State by Geneva in telegram 4, identified also as Palun 372, 357.AC/7–450.
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