611.84A/8–1954.
No. 865
Memorandum of Conversation, by the
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian,
and African Affairs (Jernegan)
Subject:
- American Jewish concern over recent developments in relation to Israel
Participants:
- Mr. Phillip Klutznick, President, B’nai B’rith
- The Secretary
- Mr. Jernegan, NEA
Mr. Klutznick said he sensed a deep concern among American Jews at what seemed to be the unfavorable trend of events with relation to Israel. He felt it his duty to register this concern with the Secretary personally. He did not criticize the Anglo-Egyptian Suez Agreement. In fact he regarded it as one of the outstanding achievements of the Secretary’s term in office but he was concerned at its possible repercussions.
The Secretary outlined our policy with regard to the Arab-Israel question, emphasizing our determination not to let Israel be crushed and our belief that the possibilities for an improvement in relations were greater now than they have been in the past. He recalled his recent lengthy conversations with Ambassador Eban as evidence of the attention which he personally was giving to this question. Mr. Jernegan mentioned that both Ambassador Eban and Prime Minister Sharett have expressed themselves as encouraged by those conversations.
Mr. Klutznick said that many people would be greatly reassured to know that the Secretary was in fact giving personal attention to the problem. He asked whether he could let this be publicly known. The Secretary said there would be no objection whatever.