Office of the Historian

357.AC/9–1451: Telegram

The United States Representative on the Palestine Conciliation Commission (Palmer) to the Secretary of State 1

confidential
priority
Paris, September 14, 1951—6 p. m.

1648. Palun 444. Fischer, Israel rep, called this afternoon to inform USDel of Sharett’s reaction to chairman’s opening statement.2 He said Sharett had expressed his surprise that statement went beyond question of compensation. He thought ref to repatriation wld prove to be red herring which wld make progress difficult. Chairman’s statement wld have to be referred to cabinet, and reply to PCC wld not be possible for several days.

I told Fischer Arab reps expected receive proposals Monday3 and that it wld be unfortunate if PCC cld not meet with Israel del on same day. I suggested that if he was not prepared Monday to reply to chairman’s opening statement, he might say so at that time but indicate he was ready to receive PCC proposals for transmission to his govt. I said I thought it wld be undesirable for Israel Govt to formulate position on opening statement without first knowing content of proposals. Fischer felt he cld not ask PCC for proposals on Monday in view his govts attitude, but added that he wld be willing attend meeting and merely state he cld not yet make reply to opening statement; he wld leave it to PCC to submit proposals then and wld be prepared receive them for transmittal to his govt. He is so informing Israel Govt.

USDel feels this procedure is most desirable and hopes there will be no adverse reaction in Tel Aviv.

[
Palmer
]
  1. Repeated for information to London, Ankara, Cairo, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Damascus, Amman, and Jerusalem.↩
  2. See Palun 440, September 12, p. 856.↩
  3. September 17.↩