Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/6–1449: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Israel 1

top secret
priority
Washington, June 14, 1949—7 p. m.

367. Deputy Under Sec Rusk June 14 called in Israeli Chargé, said Dept had received reports cancellation all Israeli Army leave June 9 and 10 and of unusual Israeli mil activity Jerusalem vicinity and Syrian border region,2 and inquired whether Charge could tell Dept if these reports true and if so what they meant. Chargé said had received no info.

Rusk then stated view signature armistice agreements and admission Israel UN, US now considered mil phase Pal definitely at end. Resolution problem Syrian-Israeli armistice now being worked on by Bunche and also was matter which in no way justified recourse to mil action by either side. Same thing applied to situation in Jerusalem which had been prejudiced by recent Israeli move. Peace and stability NE extremely important to US and Dept perturbed by above reports from Israel. Rusk did not presume state what these reports meant but desired Chargé inform his Govt that US, as friend of Israel, would be deeply disappointed if Israel should undertake new mil action. No one cld foresee consequences of such action, which would be completely unjustified by circumstances.

Chargé said wld immediately convey info to his Govt.

Webb
  1. This telegram was repeated to Arab capitals and Jerusalem and to Bern for the United States Delegation at Lausanne.↩
  2. Tel Aviv advised, on June 17, that the resumption of Syrian-Israeli armistice talks had tended to relieve tensions in that area (telegram 467, 867N.00 (W)/6–1749).↩