83. Memorandum for the Record1
(Mr. Rountree’s Briefing of Ambassador Ogden R. Reid, June 11, 1959)2
(The following is a paraphrase of remarks exchanged by Mr. Rountree and Mr. Reid. Others present were Murat Williams and William L. Hamilton.)
United States–Israel Relationships
Mr. Rountree: Israel occupies a very special place in U.S. international relations. Because of its youthful vigor, its dynamism, its triumph over great odds, it holds a special place in the esteem of the American people and, of course, is of particular interest to the American Jewish community which is more effective in support of its protege than any other American minority.
A very close relationship with Israel has to be carefully balanced by our attention to the Arab states. Impartiality is essential but not always easy either for the U.S. Government itself or individuals to exercise. It will be important for you to take no position that tends to identify you with Israel causes or interests.
Mr. Reid: I hope I am sufficiently sensitive to this consideration. It is my intention to represent the U.S. first, last and always and to make that intention clear at all times. I appreciate that it will be difficult and I am already aware in a small degree of the pressure that can be brought to bear on one going to Israel by its friends.
Status of Jerusalem
Mr. Rountree: Many problems in our relations with the Government of Israel arise with our determination to support the U.N. resolutions on various aspects of the Palestinian complex. For example, we have never weakened in our determination to respect the resolutions giving a special status to Jerusalem. It is important to avoid public actions or statements which in any way indicate that we are resigned to Israel’s conduct of government in Jerusalem in resistance to the expressed desire of the U.N. This imposes a difficult responsibility on our Embassy, not only in support of our own policy but because of its [Page 183] effect on other governments. It is U.S. practice to inform governments planning to establish missions in Israel of our position vis-à-vis Jerusalem and our determination to maintain our own offices in Tel Aviv.
Mr. Reid: I talked today to Ambassador Lawson who said that it was his practice to avoid official functions and, when obliged to go to Jerusalem, to attempt to see officials in their homes rather than in government buildings. He told me, however, that appearances at non-government functions in Jerusalem could be reconciled with our policy.
Mr. Rountree: It is important to avoid actions in Jerusalem that will attract conspicuous public attention or publicity.
Israel Defense Forces and Military Aid to Israel
Mr. Rountree: The personal position of the Ambassador is very important regarding the above. The IDF is regarded with fear and respect and its activities or acquisition of new weapons are matters of great sensitivity to the Arabs. Here too public statements or appearances related to the armed forces should be scrupulously avoided.
Mr. Reid: How about visits to IDF establishments?
Mr. Rountree: Such should be avoided as well as any activity that can be interpreted as support or sympathetic interest in the IDF.
We are opposed as a matter of policy to supplying most categories of military equipment to Israel. Such assistance as we give them is on a reimbursable basis. This represents no hardship for the Israelis because they have traditional sources of supply from whom they obtain their major requirements.
Eilat and the Straits of Tiran
Mr. Rountree: U.S. supports Israel’s use for maritime purposes of the Gulf of Aqaba and as expressed in our Memorandum of February 11, 1957,3 support for Israel’s peaceful transit of the Straits of Tiran. It is a subject of some sensitivity, however, in our relations with Saudi Arabia and appearances in Eilat should be avoided on occasions related to Israel’s efforts to expand traffic via that route.
Relations with Asia–Africa
Mr. Reid: How do we feel about Israel’s efforts to cultivate economic and political ties with Afro-Asian countries?
Mr. Rountree: We regard this enterprise with favor. We are pleased that Israel is able to assist newly emergent nations by supplying them with technical guidance. However, we have declined suggestions [Page 184] by them that we underwrite some of the expense of this activity because of its adverse impact on our relations with certain other countries.
Assistance to Israel
Mr. Rountree: We give Israel’s request for assistance of one kind or another most sympathetic attention. We find little economic justification for any but commodity or loan assistance but political considerations make it almost impossible to eliminate grant assistance altogether. You will find that Israel needs no encouragement in seeking assistance for development objectives, and, unlike the situation in some countries which cannot formulate assistance requirements, the Israelis come up with more suggestions than we can hope to satisfy or should satisfy, considering the availability of funds and the legitimate needs of other governments.
Jordan Valley Plan
Mr. Rountree: You may find it necessary to resist importunities from the Israelis on this complex. They are able to make a plausible case for pushing ahead with their projects, arguing that Arab refusal to undertake a unified plan should not bind their hands as well. We are opposed, however, to assisting them in proceeding with projects which will take their share of the water without any of the reciprocal concessions they would be obliged to give the Arabs under a unified development engineered to divide the water equitably.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.84A/6–1159. Secret. Drafted by Hamilton on June 17.↩
- On March 12, the Department of State announced that Ogden R. Reid had been nominated as the new Ambassador to Israel. The Senate confirmed the appointment on June 4 and Reid presented his credentials on July 2.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1955–1957, Vol. XVII, pp. 132–134.↩