FOREIGN RELATIONS) 1949, VOLUME VI


    We do not feel that President's comments to Weizmann re Negev are
 inconsistent with his instructions to you or with overall basic position
 so clearly set forth by Jessup in his speech to Committee One Nov. 20.
 President's position still is that Israel is entitled to territory allotted
 by GA res. Nov. 29, 1947 and that no changes in frontiers set down by
 that res. can be made without free consent of Israel. However if Israel
 desires territory not allocated to it by Nov. 29 res. such as Arab areas
 in western Galilee and Jaffa or such as present corridor to Jerusalem,
 Israel must be expected to make territorial compensation elsewhere.
   President's   letter  to  Weizmann      was   marked    personal   and
 confidential.2
   This telegram has been approved by the President.3
                                                                ACHESON
   2A marginal notation by Mr. McClintock on.an information copy of this
tele-
 gram states that this sentence was added by President Truman.
   I Telegram'80 was initialed by President Truman. The substance of the-telegram
 was furnished to Ambassador Douglas by Mr. Rusk in a letter of February
11.
 The letter cited a message from G. Lewis Jones, First Secretary of Embassy
 in the United Kingdom, to Mr. Satterthwaite, not identified as to date,
in which
 it was set forth that "Dick Crossman, M.P., who recently visited Dr.
Weizmann
 in Tel Aviv, has been spreading the rumor in London that while he was with
 Dr. Weizmann the latter received a personal letter from President Truman
to
 the effect that no matter what the United States Government might say offi-
 cially, Weizmann 'should not give up one inch of the Negev.'" Mr. Jones'
letter
 also mentioned that Mr. Bevin was upset by the story. Mr. Rusk suggested
that
 Mr. Bevin be apprised of the true facts. Ambassador Douglas replied on Febru-
 ary 28 that Mr. Jones "has passed on in strict confidence the facts
in your
 letter to Michael Wright and Bernard Burrows for their information and such
 discreet use as seems desirable." Mr. Rusk's letter and Ambassador
Douglas'
 reply are filed under 501.BB Palestine/2-1149, /2-2849. The editors have
been
 unable to find Mr. Jones' letter in the files of the Department of State.


 890D.00/2-949: Telegram
     The Minister in Syria (Keeley) to the Secretary oj State

CONFIDENTIAL                      DAMASCUS, February 9, 19-49-3 p. m.
   51. [On?] February 8, 5 p. m. [, ?] Prime Minister Azm, continu-
ing conversation reported mytel 50, 8th [9th],' said Syrians recog-

  'Not printed; it reported the Prime Minister's observations that "Syria
desires
facilitate Palestine Conciliation Commission's task in a very proper wIay
and
hopes this new approach to Palestine problem will result in some satisfactory
settlement more in keeping with principles of right and justice than has
heretofore been evident. However, before agreeing undertake armistice dis-
cussions in response Acting Mediator Bunche's invitation Syrian Government
in agreement certain other Arab Governments . . . desires to have assurances
Zionists will carry out UNSC resolutions, particularly those of November
4 and
16." He then noted the repeated flouting of UN authority by the Zionists
without
incurring UN punitive measures or censure. Syria felt that as a prerequisite.
to
undertaking armistice talks, the Zionists must give "guarantees"
to carry out
Security Council resolutions faithfully. The Prime Minister was said to have
"evaded" Minister Keeley's request for clarification of the guarantees
sought.
(501.BB Palestine/2-949)


742