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

45. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel¹

Washington,March 9, 1955—4:09 p.m.

510. For Ambassador. You should call upon Sharett soonest and give him following oral message from Secretary:

• “1. I had been led believe that present Government of Israel was sincerely interested in the reduction of tension in the area and to that end was pursuing a policy of restraint and moderation. The recent incident in Gaza raises questions as to the validity of this assumption.
• 2. The USG has consistently opposed reprisal raids. The facts have shown that such raids dangerously heighten existing tensions. The very insecurity of which Israel complains is aggravated by such a policy.
• 3. You will recall that since August 1954, at your Ambassador’s urgent request, I have been personally engaged in the study of possible measures looking toward the alleviation of the feelings of apprehension and isolation which, according to the Israel Government,were besetting the people of Israel.² I advised you on February 14³ that good progress had been made in this study and pointed out the necessity for continued calm in the area and the helpful effect of Israel’s policy of moderation. The Gaza incident, which has re-inflamed hatreds, will of necessity require reorientation of this study to take account of existing facts.
• 4. Our common interest requires that there be a reduction of tension in the Near East as a means of strengthening the area for defense against the Communist threat. It is the firm intention of the USG to continue to work toward these objectives and our policy toward Israel will be formulated in the light of this intention. I bespeak Israel’s full cooperation in this endeavor. I have not been reassured by the characterization of the Gaza incident as ‘merely an episode’ which presumably might recur.”⁴

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/3–956. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Bergus and Hart and cleared with Secretary Dulles by Allen, who also signed for Dulles. Repeated to Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Jidda, London, Paris, and USUN.
2. For summaries of the Secretary’s conversations of August 4 and 7, 1954, with Ambassador Eban, see telegrams 61 and 72 to Tel Aviv, August 4 and 7, in Foreign Relations, 1952–1954, vol. IX, Part 1, pp. 1600 and 1604, respectively.
3. See Document 22.
4. Lawson informed the Department on March 13 that he had delivered the Secretary’s message on March 12 to Sharett, who reiterated his previous statements that the Gaza incident represented no change in Israel’s basic policy; that Israel would continue to pursue a policy of moderation; but that Israel had used forceful methods in this instance to protect its national security interests. (Telegram 777 from Tel Aviv; Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/3–1355)