974.531/7–2051: Telegram
The Ambassador in Israel (Davis) to the Department of State
priority
66. Embtel 33, July 131 also 592 and 60, July 20.3
FonMin contrasted today forthright attitude US Govt in sponsoring resolution condemning Israel with what appeared to him to be its reluctance and hesitation to take clear-cut position on action Egypt in obstructing Suez Canal traffic. Believe his remarks were prompted by report from Eban on recent conversations New York and Washington which Sharett found far from encouraging. He expressed view that by failure to sponsor resolution, or by merely refraining from commenting, US may encourage and imply tacit acceptance of pernicious Egyptian doctrine that state of war still exists and that it has right to interfere with international traffic ways.
FonMin referred to press story yesterday from Cairo that Egypt prepared permit passage of tankers but only under certain conditions (that Israel give undertaking products wld not be used in aggressive war against Arab States and that some kind of international board on which Egypt wld be represented be set up to protect interests Arab countries). Sharett said it wld be easy for Israel to give such assurances since it contemplates no aggressive action, but idea of board unacceptable. He feels moreover principle involved shld not be compromised. He said once more it was difficult for him to reconcile our active line on Huleh with apparently negative one on present case, that he felt failure of powers to take stand on such important principle wld be a “smashing blow to whole edifice of armistice agreements”. He concluded with comment that Egypt cld hardly say its interference with waterway to Akaba was other than military.
Comment follows.