Office of the Historian

683.84A/5–1851: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Mission at the United Nations1

Confidential
Priority
Washington, May 18, 1951—1 p. m.

936. Re Syrian-Israeli dispute. Dept considers unacceptable Israel proposals made to Dept and USUN May 172 amend draft Four-Power res with exception para noting Israel regret re bombing. Suggest para on these lines be included immediately after para 11 which starts “Recalls to …”.3

Acheson
  1. Telegram drafted by Mr. Ludlow and Mr. Waldo. Cleared in NEA with Messrs. Berry, Kopper, and Barrow. Transmission approved by Mr. Wainhouse.↩

  2. Apparent reference to proposals contained in the following document dated May 17, found attached to telegram 936:

    “Replace paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 by the following:

    “Noting that the operations of the PLDC for draining the Huleh Marshes in the Demilitarized Zone are reported by the Chief of Staff of the TSO to affect the interests of Arab owners on seven acres of land in the Demilitarized Zone; Requests the Chief of Staff of the TSO to formulate an arrangement for the protection of the interests of the landowners involved, either by fair compensation or by an exchange of land, or both;

    “Calls upon the parties to comply with such arrangement that the Chief of Staff may propose.

    “Paragraph 9:

    “Regarding … not to resort to military force,

    “(a) Takes note of the statement of the representative of Israel on April 25 expressing regret for the aerial action taken by Israel forces on April 5, 1951;

    “(b) Finds that …

    “Paragraph 10:

    “Noting the complaint with regard to the evacuation of Arab residents from the Demilitarized Zone,

    “(a) Requests the Chief of Staff of the TSO, as a matter of urgency, to investigate this complaint,

    “(b) Calls upon the parties to comply with the findings of the Chief of Staff in this matter.”

    The source text of this attachment contains no explanatory information other than the date.

    ↩

  3. Record of the Security Council meeting held May 18 (U.N. Doc. S/PV.547) indicates that a revised draft (U.N. Doc. S/2152/Rev. 1) incorporating the substance of the modification to paragraph 9 which had been suggested by Israel was introduced by the sponsoring powers.

    There followed a summary by USUN of action taken on the revision: “In noting the insertion in the revised text, Eban had thought it was to have replaced the sub-para condemning the bombing action. As the entire para (11) gave the impression of guilt, Israel was profoundly resentful. After the sponsors stated the revision had been made along the lines they thought had been suggested to them by Israel, Louri (Israel) replied the insertion or omission of the sub-para noting the statement of regret was of no consequence because the condemnation sub-para remained. The sponsors then withdrew Rev. 2 and Rev. 1 [introduced May 16] was adopted 10–0–1 (USSR).” (Quoted from telegram 1549 from New York, May 18, 11 p. m.; 330/5–1851)

    ↩