67. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, March 9, 1959, 3:30 p.m.1
PARTICIPANTS
- The Acting Secretary
- Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel Minister for Foreign Affairs
- Mr. Abba Eban, Ambassador, Embassy of Israel
- Mr. Yaacov Herzog, Minister, Embassy of Israel
- NEA—William M. Rountree
- NE—William L. Hamilton
During a conversation on another subject, Mrs. Meir informed the Acting Secretary that her Government would appreciate the United States taking a more passive role than in the past with other governments on the question of locating diplomatic missions in Israel. While most missions have chosen to remain in Tel Aviv, a few, including the Netherlands, Uruguay, Guatemala, and Venezuela, have located in Jerusalem. She said others would move there too if they were not afraid that to do so would incur the displeasure of the United States. The Israelis wished to submit that this is a decision governments should be permitted to make for themselves without being intimidated.
Mr. Rountree said that past experience had revealed a difference in the views of the two governments on the problem. The United Nations regards the Jerusalem question as an international issue. Consequently the United States feels it has a moral obligation in the matter. As Mrs. Meir had said, each government must decide its position for itself. However, we are convinced that the United Nations interest is a legitimate one and, on this premise, we make our views known to interested governments.
Ambassador Eban said that the problem has two aspects. The United States decision to remain in Tel Aviv is one which the Israelis do not presume to question. They do, however, disapprove of our bringing our influence to bear on other governments. He said two countries located missions in Jerusalem only to move them to Tel Aviv later. He and Mrs. Meir implied that this move from Jerusalem was responsive to United States pressure. Mr. Rountree said he assumed they had Liberia in mind as one of the two instances, to which the Israelis nodded assent. Mr. Rountree stated we had explained our position to the Liberians but once they had decided on Jerusalem we had taken no further action. Their decision to move to Tel Aviv was their own.
[Page 152]Mrs. Meir concluded by saying that all Israel asked was that governments be permitted to decide for themselves without being given the impression there was a special United States interest in their decision.