Office of the Historian

683.84A/7–2051: Telegram

The Ambassador in Israel (Davis) to the Department of State 1

secret
priority
Tel Aviv, July 20, 1951—5 p. m.

59. Info in Deptel 38, July 172 very timely.

Fon Min handed me today copy of what purports to be communication dated July 18 from Chairman ISMAC to Mr. N. Hurowitz whom Fon Min described as local rep Pal Land Development Company which reads as fols:

“I wish to inform you of fol opinion of Chief of Staff UNTSO Pal which has been expressed to me: (a) Chief of Staff considers that public lands, i.e., those lands in the demilitarized zone (incl Jordan River bed) the right which were vested in High Commissioner for Pal are lands which still remain in disputed status.

[Page 786]

(b) Chief of Staff, therefore, does not believe that PLDC has right to work on these lands until clarification of their status has been obtained.

Will you pls inform me as soon as possible of your views relative to above. It is particularly requested that you inform me as to acceptance or non-acceptance on part of PLDC of foregoing ruling of Chief of Staff”.

Communication signed by S. G. Taxis, Col. USMC. Comment fols.

Davis
  1. Repeated for information to Damascus, Beirut, and London.↩
  2. Not printed; but same as telegram 93 from New York, July 16, p. 773.↩