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

611.80/9–354

No. 885
The Chargé in Israel (Russell) to the Department of State

top secret
priority

Tel Aviv, September 3, 1954—3 p.m.

233. Department circular telegram 125.¹ Embassy believes that in light of considerations set forth by Department and in telegrams from mission, proposed statement is best designed to achieve our objectives, meets Israel’s legitimate needs, and will in a helpful measure assuage fears of Israel public. It can be anticipated, on basis of statements made in recent Knesset debates and by IG officials privately, that IG will take position that statement is not satisfactory to them. In Embassy’s opinion IG would take such position with respect to any action on our part that did not: (a) Take form of a treaty giving them ability to insist on invocation of clauses of treaty when they deemed it desirable; (b) commit US to automatic and immediate military action on certain contingencies; (c) give IG promise of immediate arms aid in an amount equal to that to be furnished to all Arab States combined; (d) commit US to take action to terminate unfriendly political and economic activities of Arab States directed against Israel; (e) commit US formally to oppose any amalgamation of Arab States; (f) commit US to immediate full IG participation in area defense plan.²

Embassy assumes none of these now possible in view of constitutional limitations, military considerations, and our area objectives.

Embassy suggests that: (1) IG be informed of steps simultaneously in Washington and here with oral statement that action goes as far as constitutional limitations permit in commitment to guarantee Israel’s borders; that if at any time situation appears to require it, consideration will be given to asking congressional authorization to use force; that USG’s desire to give sympathetic attention to Israel’s needs would be aided by their constructive cooperation in achieving area goals of security and relaxation of tension; (2) friends of Israel in US be advised informally as soon as possible by Department officers of reasons why this action goes as far as possible, why we believe it is adequate, and of our hopes for Israel’s cooperation.

Russell

1. Document 881.
2. Points (a)-(f) here were subsequently reiterated in an attachment to a briefing memorandum of Sept. 14 from Byroade to Dulles in preparation for Eban’s call at the Department on Sept. 15. (601.84A11/9–1454)