1286          FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1949, VOLUME VI
if desirable French and Turks. Foregoing procedure would obviate
any embarrassment which might be caused by French and Turks learn-
-ing we have been discussing this question with British outside PCC
and presumably unbeknownst to them. Procedure would, moreover,
have advantage keeping negotiations in UN organs which in final
:analysis will have responsibility for seeing settlement lived up to.
                                                         DOUGLAS
-501.BB Palestine/ 8-549.: Telegram
           01r. Paul A. Porter to the Secretary of State

-TOP SECRET    PRIORITY         LAUSANNE, August 5, 1949-5 p. m.
   Palun 265. PCC has asked principal advisers, meeting in private
,and not as general committee, to draw up informal proposals concern-
ing territory allocation of refugees and Jerusalem which PIOC might
'consider submitting to parties as basis discussion. Jerusalem proposal
will be plan drawn up by Jerusalem Committee.
   First meeting revealed following re territory:
   (1) French representative stated French Delegation and French
-Government had specific ideas concerning territorial settlement.
French Government desired not to offend either Jewish minority in
-France or Moslem population French empire. French representative,
accordingly, most reluctant participate in-any discussions re territory.
Was only persuaded to do so when it was pointed out that any plan
.drawn up would be informal personal suggestion of advisers and that
-it would not necessarily be accepted by POC or by Governments- of
members of PCC.
   'Despite above statement of French representative, there have been
indications here that French Delegation PCC has been encouraging
Lebanese Delegation to advocate trusteeship over western Galilee.
   (2) Under instructions his government, Turkish principal adviser
 has drawn up plan involving transfer of Negev to Egypt and Trans.
 jordan below line- Deir el Balah-Asluj-31st parallel-Transjordan
 'frontier. Turkish plan would also transfer to Lebanon and Syria east-
 ern Galilee above horizontal line between Lebanon and Syrian borders
 just north Lake Hula and would return to Transjordan areas in tri-
 -angle given up during Israeli-Transjordan armistice negotiations, as
 -well as .some territory in Lydda-Ramle area but not towns of Rlamle
 -and Lydda.
   Turkish principal adviser and apparently Turkish Foreign Office
 convinced would be easier for Jews to give up Negev than all eastern
-or western Galilee. Yenisey states Turkish plan would maintain de-
sired Arab territorial continuity, give Transjordan corridors to sea
^at Deir el Balah and create buffer 'between Egypt and Israel.
  (3) 1 have authorized US principal adviser to advocate territorial
distribution based upon judgment of prospects of acceptances and
defensibility. This proposal is not intended to represent any appraisal
..of objectiv-d factors of geographic, economic, ethnic or other considera-