254. Telegram From the Consulate General at Jerusalem to the Department of State1
402. On evening April 6 Burns gave me comments along following lines expressing his opinions most recent Gaza incidents (Con-Gen telegram 4012 and previous). The Egyptians were clearly in the wrong during earlier stages. Burns had warned them on various occasions against promiscuous shooting across border, stating that such actions would doubtless at some point evoke vigorous and, for them, troublesome Israeli reaction. He had expressed this view at least five different times recently, either to Gohar, Amer, or Nasser. Arguments they had given him to effect that Egyptian posts must be allowed fire their discretion owing fear of attack by approaching Israeli patrols (whether or not actually across D/L) were not valid since Egyptians had also continued firing at Israelis in fixed positions, despite Amer’s assurance to Burns that he would have this practice stopped. He considered Egyptians themselves responsible for initiating latest spiral of incidents and reprisals.
While Israelis initially had strong case against Egyptians they had later thrown it away, …. Burns did not believe Israeli slaughter of civilians on this occasion was result any high-level policy decision. He considered the Israelis had simply blundered into the situation through their eagerness retaliate, presumably in accordance with standing orders. Thus, original Egyptian firing at patrol and killing three soldiers had evolved into series retaliations and counter-retaliations, included exchanges fire against villages, which had culminated in unfortunate mortaring of Gaza town. Owing to population concentrated in Gaza latter action was not at all analogous to shelling of frontier Kibbutz in open country, for instance, although Israeli military personnel may not have borne such fine distinctions very clearly in mind at the time. With regard hit on Baptist Hospital, Burns said it was not clear that hospital itself was directly involved. He understood it was possibly annex to hospital in some other building which was hit. Although there was some small arms fire this morning situation believed generally quiet. Civil population Gaza reported under control. Curfew lifted this morning until 1600 hours local time today.
[Page 492]If things remain quiet Burns expects proceed Rome April 8.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/4–756. Limited Official Use; Priority. Received at 12:01 p.m. Repeated priority to Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 247.↩