Office of the Historian

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

Washington, March 2, 1956—7:15 p.m.

519. Following conversation with Secretary Feb. 29 Hammarskjold conversation later with other Departmental representative2 set forth following views:

1.
Stabilization border situation is paramount issue. He hopeful that since neither Egyptians nor Israelis really want war they will as result of further pressing of negotiations by him and Burns obtain workable arrangements for tranquilizing border.
2.
Some step toward solution refugee problem urgently needed. His present thinking is that Israelis should be persuaded take back portion of refugees after which major powers and SC would in effect endorse such program of repatriation and provide thereby basis Arabs agreeing resettlement of remainder refugees through acceptance of Jordan Valley and other plans.
3.
While in his opinion settlement border question is most “logical” first step he believes such step must await established progress toward settlement refugee question.
4.
He does not believe GA has any useful role in Palestine question now or in foreseeable future and believes SC consideration of Palestine question can and should await outcome negotiations on border tranquilization which should take next couple of months.

Department representative pointed out to Hammarskjold his proposal of placing some agreement of repatriation before possible acceptance of Jordan Valley Plan likely to make Arabs put off [Page 283] decision on plan. Furthermore his proposal ran counter to course of negotiations which Johnston has thus far conducted in area to effect that Arabs could agree to Jordan Valley Plan without prejudice to settlement of outstanding political problems. Hammarskjold indicated he felt forced to confer with other SC delegations concerning his proposals but indicated some appreciation of impact his proposal on possible future Jordan Valley negotiations.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 684A.86/3–256. Confidential. Drafted by Ludlow and approved by Bond who signed for Dulles. Also sent to London, Paris for Lodge, Cairo, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem; pouched to Amman, Damascus, Beirut, Baghdad, and Jidda.↩
  2. No record of this conversation has been found in Department of State files.↩