Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/6–1349: Telegram

Mr. John C. Ross to the Secretary of State

confidential
priority
New York, June 13, 1949—11:30 p. m.

723. Bunche informed USUN this evening that at MAC meeting Riley and Jordan voted for proposal that both sides should withdraw from demilitarized zone in Jerusalem, but Israelis voted against, therefore proposal failed.

Bunche informed us that he is calling Eban in tomorrow to tell him bluntly that Israelis must withdraw from demilitarized zone or he will immediately resign as Acting Mediator and inform SC that reason is Israeli violation of agreement. Bunche says he will state publicly that there is no point in his attempting to negotiate a Syrian-Israeli armistice agreement if the Israelis are not going to observe such agreement. Upon his return to New York this evening, he reviewed the entire situation and is thoroughly disgusted with Israeli policy re Jerusalem demilitarized zone. He terms policy as “criminally crooked”, stating that there could be no doubt that whole basis of armistice agreement was that Israeli-Arab lines should remain as they were unless changed by mutual agreement.1

Ross
  1. Jerusalem reported, on June 14, that “At conclusion 6-hour meeting yesterday MAC passed resolution providing for simultaneous withdrawal troops of both sides by 1000 hours GMT today … Resolution stated both sides violated armistice by moving troops into neutral zone. Riley cast deciding vote siding with Arab Delegation against Israel.” (telegram 417, 501.BB Palestine/6–1449)

    Later the same day, Jerusalem reported an unofficial statement by a United Nations officer that Israeli and Arab forces had withdrawn from the Government House zone on schedule (telegram 421, 501.BB Palestine/6–1449).

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