Office of the Historian

683.84A/8–2951: Telegram

The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Department of State 1

confidential
New York, August 29, 1951—8:58 p.m.

279. Re Syria–Israel:

Following is text of informal notes handed to Ambassador Eban this morning at meeting with co-sponsors of May 18 res discussed in immediately previous tel.

  • “(1) Co-sponsors note with satisfaction Israeli action on drainage project in compliance with 5th para of res.
  • “(2) Interim report of Aug 16 indicates Israelis have not complied with 10th para of May 18 res re Bundle’s explanatory note on draft of Art 5 of armistice agreement. Co-sponsors consider Israeli attempt to police entire demilitarized zone inconsistent with that para since they understood para to mean that zone policing should be on local basis, Israeli police for Israeli settlements, Arab police for Arab villages, and size and operation of police forces to be determined by MAC chairman.
  • “(3) Report also indicates non-compliance by Israelis with 12th para of res since procedures for returning Arabs to zone and treatment of Arabs already returned to zone are not satisfactory. In this connection following paras from General Riley’s fourth interim report (document S/2300) were discussed.
    • “15. Return of Arabs removed to Shaab area.
    • “16. Right of Arabs to trade with Syria.
    • “21. Return of Arabs who fled to Syria.
    • “22. Return of Arabs now in vicinity of El Hamma to Es Samra and Nuqueb.
    • “28. Compensation and rehabilitation of Arabs returned to demilitarized zone.
  • “(4) Report indicates non-compliance by Israelis with 14th para of res since restrictive measures on movement of UN observers within zone have been imposed by Israeli police.
  • “(5) Report indicates parties have not complied with paras 7, 8 and 9 of res in that they have not agreed to a MAC meeting since June despite a number of complaints pending.
  • “(6) Co-sponsors feel that both parties must make fullest use of machinery of Syrian-Israel general armistice agreement. This includes meeting in MAC to discuss outstanding complaints and other issues of concern to one or the other party.”
Austin
  1. Repeated to Beirut, Damascus, and Tel Aviv. The Mission in the best position to do so was requested to convey the substance of this telegram to General Riley.↩