Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1955, Volume XIV

115. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission at the United Nations¹

Washington,June 4, 1955—12:34 p.m.

718. Re Palestine in SC: Gaza. We suggest re urtel 849² that you take following course of action:

1. In your capacity as President of SC this month you address a letter to members of SC, with copies to Egyptian and Israel Delegations, in which you would make following points: a) you have special responsibility as President of SC to bring to attention of Council members your concern over continued incidents on Gaza border and difficulties being encountered by Chief of Staff of TSO in carrying out Council’s unanimous resolution of March 30; b) you are still hopeful resolution will be implemented promptly with full cooperation of Governments of Egypt and Israel; c) if this hope is not realized, however, and General Burns does not receive full cooperation of parties it may be necessary to call Council for specific purpose of considering status of implementation of March 30 resolution and such further assistance and support to General Burns as may be necessary.

2. Purpose of this letter is to establish priority for Council consideration of Gaza border situation in context of March 30 resolution and Burns’ proposals over possible Israeli and Egyptian agenda items which can only produce rehash of previous accusations against each other. Meeting, if called, would be to hear Burns or consider written report from him if necessary, and to culminate in consensus action a) reaffirming March 30 resolution, b) endorsing any new proposals which appear feasible such as Nasser’s mutual withdrawal proposal,³ and c) urging parties, pursuant to March 30 resolution, to meet under aegis of General Bums at higher level than MAC to ensure implementation of March 30 resolution.

3. We urge you advise UK and French Delegations of your proposed action, but believe it not necessary or desirable to obtain their concurrence to proposed letter to Council members.⁴

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/6–255. Confidential. Drafted by Ludlow, cleared with Bergus; and approved by Key, who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Cairo, Tel Aviv, London, and Paris.
2. Document 113.
3. On June 1,Nasser proposed to General Burns that, as a way to relieve tension in the Gaza area, both the Israelis and Egyptians “could withdraw their troops a kilometer from the demarcation line.”Byroade reported that both he and Stevenson urged Burns to consider Nasser’s offer of mutual withdrawal.Burns had indicated his willingness to pursue the matter but believed the Israelis would not accept such a proposal. (Telegram 1827 from Cairo; Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/ 6–155)
4. For text of Ambassador Lodge’s letter of June 7 as President of the Security Council to the members of the Council, see U.N. doc. S/3406. In this communication,Lodge voiced his concerns about the situation along the Gaza demarcation line and the difficulties encountered by General Burns in carrying out the Security Council resolution of March 30. The Mission at the United Nations transmitted the text of this letter on June 7 to the Department in telegram 862. (ibid., 674.84A/6–755)