767N.90D/6–1649: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Legation in Syria
252. Referring to conversation reported in your tel No. 327 of June 16,1 you may tell Arslan that US regards armistice agreements as very important stabilizing factors ME. The US will accordingly be prepared exercise its influence in SC to end that SC should take any necessary measures within scope Charter to deal with any threat to or violation intl peace and security arising from any threat to or breach these agreements. You may inform Arslan that Israeli Gov being informed this message with assurances impartial application.2
Reftel indicates possible misapprehension Arslan that Bunche proposal requires Syria withdraw several kilometers behind its own border. If necessary please make clear that proposal only requires withdrawal to intl boundary and that Syrians may station forces right up to the border, according Bunche’s own interpretation.
- Not printed.↩
- The Department repeated
this paragraph in telegram 379 sent to Tel Aviv the same day. It
concluded the message with an instruction to “inform Israeli Gov
that our application foregoing policy will be impartial,
depending entirely upon findings as to responsibility in event
of threat or breach armistice agreement.” (501.BB
Palestine/6–1849)
Minister Keeley was received separately by Foreign Minister Arslan and Prime Minister Zaim on June 20 (telegrams 332, June 20, 501.BB Palestine/6–2049, and 335, June 21, 867N.01/6–2149, both from Damascus). The latter message expressed his optimism that “there is now good chance of early agreement on basis Bunche proposal of June 8 if Israeli show equal accommodating spirit. Department’s expressed willingness to put weight its influence in SC behind observance any agreement reached has had marked reassuring effect.”
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