669. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Israel1
661. At earliest appropriate occasion please bring following to attention Prime Minister Ben Gurion, “under instructions”:
USG seriously disturbed over statements by officials of Israel Government to effect that in their opinion recent events in Middle East have made Egyptian-Israeli General Armistice Agreement2 invalid.
These statements indicate that Israel Government considers that either party to Agreement has right to determine unilaterally whether it must observe that Agreement or whether it may disregard it. USG cannot agree with this point of view which has dangerous implications for peace and stability of area.
Nowhere does Egyptian-Israeli Armistice Agreement envisage unilateral abrogation or amendment. On contrary, Article XII specifically provides that Agreement shall remain in force until peaceful settlement between Parties achieved. Only exception is that [Page 1339] Parties may by mutual consent revise Agreement, or any of its provisions, other than Articles I and II. In absence of mutual agreement on revision, specific mechanism is provided for settlement of differences, through conference convoked by Secretary General in first instance, and in Security Council in second instance.
General Armistice Agreements were called for by Security Council and concluded under auspices of Acting Mediator pursuant to decision of Security Council. Security Council later expressed its satisfaction with agreements as important step toward establishment of permanent peace. Until Security Council decides otherwise, or until Parties by mutual consent decide to amend Agreements, world community, and especially Parties directly concerned, must base actions on assumption that all provisions of Agreements binding. Any contrary assumption is not in opinion USG, justified.
USG feels however that it is clearly in best interests of all signatories to General Armistice Agreements to uphold their integrity so as to facilitate transition toward Israel-Arab peace.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/12–2856. Confidential. Drafted by Gamon; cleared by Raymond, Rountree, and Murphy; and approved by Walmsley who signed for Dulles. Repeated to USUN, Cairo, Amman, and Damascus and pouched to Beirut, Paris, and London.↩
- The Egyptian-Israeli General Armistice Agreement was signed at Rhodes on February 24, 1949. The text is printed in United Nations, Official Records of the Security Council, Fourth Year, Special Supplement No. 3.↩