974.5301/9–852: Circular airgram
No. 481
The Secretary of
State to Certain Diplomatic
Missions1
On July 28, 1952, the United States received from the Israel Government a note2 setting forth the views of Israel with respect to [Page 993] the implementation of the Security Council Resolution of September 1, 1951, calling upon the US Government to use its efforts to secure Egyptian compliance with that Resolution, and requesting “an indication… of the means which they propose to adopt to ensure free passage through the Suez Canal, in accordance with that Resolution”.3
It is understood that similar notes were addressed by Israel to the U.K. and France.
On September 2 this Government replied to the Israel note as follows:
“The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the Ambassador of Israel and has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of His Excellency’s note AE/184 of July 28, 1952 setting forth the views of the Government of Israel with respect to the implementation of the Security Council Resolution of September 1, 1951 calling upon Egypt ‘to terminate restrictions on the passage of international commercial shipping and goods through the Suez Canal wherever bound, and to cease all interferences with such shipping’.
“The United States Government has given careful consideration to the views of the Government of Israel and fully appreciates the difficult situation in which Israel finds itself as a result of the Egyptian restrictions. The United States Government desires to reiterate its firm belief in the principle that it is incumbent upon all members of the United Nations to respect and to comply with resolutions adopted by the United Nations.
“As the Government of Israel is well aware, the United States Government attaches the greatest importance to the binding nature of the Armistice Agreements signed between Israel and the several Arab states. It is the belief of this Government that until such time as permanent peace can be achieved, full respect for the Armistice Agreements is essential to the maintenance of peace and stability in the Near East.
“At the same time, the United States Government, which fully supports the principle of the free and unimpeded use of the Suez Canal as an international waterway, believes that the present moment is not opportune to raise with the Egyptian Government its failure to comply with the September 1, 1951 Security Council Resolution. The Israeli Government will no doubt share the view of the United States Government that since the objective to be sought is the lifting of the restrictions, it would be desirable to approach Egypt on this question at such time as the prospects are more favorable to the achievement of the objective.
“The United States Government wishes to emphasize to the Government of Israel that it does not condone the attitude of Egypt in refusing to comply with the Security Council Resolution. The United States Government is in constant touch with the Governments of France and the United Kingdom and other interested governments with a view to determining the juncture at which it [Page 994] might be possible to pursue this matter with the Egyptian Government.”
It is understood that the British and French Governments will make similar replies to the Israel Government’s note. In your discretion you may inform the government to which you are accredited of the nature of the reply of this Government to the Israel note.