Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Near and Middle East, Volume IX, Part 1

683.84A/2–2753: Telegram

No. 575
The Ambassador in Israel (Davis) to the Department of State¹

secret
priority

Tel Aviv, February 27, 1953—6 p.m.

1380. Embtel 1370.² Embassy informed by Consulate General Jerusalem that true text of letter sent from Lt. Col. Gaon to Vigier of UNTSO reads as follows:

“In view of the fact that it has been agreed to confine the present Israeli-Syrian talks to changes of the demarcation line within the demilitarized zones only, the Israeli delegation is expecting to be notified of a date, settled by you, for the resumption of the discussions.

“I have also been authorized to state that whenever an inhabitant of the demilitarized zone elects to leave his present abode because of changes effected in this zone, he shall be suitably compensated. If this compensation is made in form of lands, such lands need not necessarily lie within the demilitarized zone.”³

Davis

1. Repeated to Damascus, Jerusalem, London, Paris, and Rome.
2. Supra.

3. In telegram 1383, Feb. 27, Ambassador Davis stated that Sharett reported that Vigier had informed an Israeli government representative that Syria was prepared to resume negotiations on the basis of the Gaon letter quoted in telegram 1380. (683.84A/2–2753)

   Ambassador Moose reported from Damascus on Feb. 28 that the U.N. Truce Supervision Organization stated that the initial Syrian reaction to the Israeli reply was favorable. (Telegram 574; 683.84A/2–2853)