357.AC/10–2751: Telegram
The United States Representative on the Palestine Conciliation Commission (Palmer) to the Secretary of State 1
priority
2477. Palun 461. PCC met with Israel del afternoon 26. Mtg opened with long statement by Fischer reviewing present situation with respect to conference. Inter alia Fischer stated that by PCC’s “accepting Arab States refusal to affirm the validity of the principles of the charter and decisions of SC, an organ of UN had declared itself satisfied with Arab declaration which showed intention to pursue acts hostile to Israel in violation of armistice conventions, treaties and decisions.” Arab refusal subscribe to declaration originally demanded by comm implied Arabs “refusal to negotiate, in as much as no one could participate in negots having as their objective finding of solutions for outstanding problems if in beginning they put in doubt those questions already settled.”
Del of Israel hoped comm wld pursue its efforts obtain from Arab dels “explicit recognition of their obligations under armistice agreements and charter of UN …2 conference called by comm was by nature negot between Israel and Arab States. Such negots directed through comm were conditional upon explicit recognition of Arab States of internatl engagements to which they had subscribed … these negots cld not be continued until Arab States substituted for their [Page 921] declaration of 3 October an affirmation of their intention to respect their obligations vis-à-vis Israel both as signatories of armistice agreements as interpreted by SC and as members of UN.”
“Israel del reaffirmed its desire to collaborate with comm and was ready to examine with comm any question which cld be subj of discussion between Israel del and comm as an organ of UN, it being understood that any question implying negots direct or indirect with Arab States must be postponed until Arab States had unequivocally subscribed to armistice agreements, the decisions of SC and provisions of charter of UN.”
As chairman I stated that observations of Israel del wld be studied carefully by comm but that comm believed at same time Israel del wld find it helpful receive same explanation of comms proposals as had been communicated to Arab dels on Wednesday. Fischer replied that he was prepared to hear comms statement and wld transmit it to his govt. I then read statement previously communicated to Arab dels (Palun 460).3 Mtg adjourned without further comment by Israel del or PCC.
US dels conversations during past few days with Fischer, Shiloah and Rafael indicate Israel del may be prepared take up with PCC unilaterally single question of compensation. They seem to assume this is question which can be considered by them with PCC alone without engaging in “negots” with Arab dels. It seems clear they are determined not to continue with conference as envisaged in PCC’s original invitation or within framework of PCC’s mediation between parties as outlined comms pattern of proposals.
Israel dels position seems to be based on firm Cabinet decision and explicit instructions. PCC is, therefore, faced with situation anticipated in Deptel 2103, Oct 11 [10].4 PCC has made clear it cannot now reopen question of nonaggression declarations, which Israel has made conditions precedent to further negots through comm with Arab dels. On other hand, while Israel has indicated willingness consider unilaterally with comm individual questions, no official statement as to which questions Israel has in mind has been communicated to comm. Before PCC cld enter into unilateral discussions with Israel, it seems to US del that present conference wld have to be terminated. Questions arise as to procedure PCC shld follow in terminating conference and whether under these circumstances it is desirable continue unilaterally afterwards with matters chosen by Israel for discussion. In latter case PCC’s “authoritative” role of mediation wld seem to terminate [Page 922] likewise. In any case it wld be at ah end as far as Arabs are concerned.
Situation will be considered by PCC in mtg 29th. Dept’s views for our guidance wld be appreciated.
- Repeated for information to London, Ankara, Cairo, Tel Aviv, Damascus, Beirut, Amman, and Jerusalem.↩
- All ellipses in the source text.↩
- Palun 460, identified also as telegram 2396 from Paris, October 24, not printed, contained the text of a statement which the Palestine Conciliation Commission submitted on October 24 to the Arab delegations at the conference in Paris in further explanation of the five points constituting the PCC’s comprehensive proposals (357.AC/10–2451).↩
- Ante, p. 889.↩