FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1949, VOLUME VI


  not insist (1) unconditional evacuation Faluja and (2) return Egypt
  forces to El Auja.'
    Pass copy to Army CSGID.
                                                           MCDONALD
   Mr. Rusk, on January 27, summarized telegram 57 in an unnumbered, eyes
   only telegram to Acting Mediator Bunche, at Rhodes. He concluded the message
   as follows: "We have been very much encouraged with your masterly
direc-
 tion of the Rhodes talks and even though auspices may not now seem bright
 we do hope you will stick by job until it is finished. While fully conversant
your
 desire to return we feel that no one but yourself should shepherd these
delicate
 negotiations at this time. Conciliation Commission can then build on foundations
 you have established." (501.33B Palestine/1-2749)


 867N.01/2-1449
      Memorandum by the Secretary of State to the President

 SECRET ,,WASHINGTON, January 27, 1949.
 Subject: De jure recognition of the Governments of Israel and
     Transjordan.
   On August 30, 1948 you approved a policy of simultaneously ex-
 tending de jure recognition to Israel and Transjordan, after the
 Israeli elections.' On October 24, 1948, you declared in a public state-
 ment that when a permanent government was elected in Israel it would
 promptly be given de jure recognition.2
   The Israeli elections took place on January 25. Reports so far re-
 ceived are that the moderate Mapai party of David Ben Gurion,
 which is now in control of the Provisional Government of -Israel, has
 won enough votes to assure that it will remain in control of the ad-
 ministration, with the assistance of political groups sympathetic to it.
 Accordingly, I believe we should plan to extend full recognition to
 Transjordan and Israel in the very near future.
 There are attached draft telegrams to our representatives in Tel
 Aviv (Tab A)3 and Amman (Tab B) instructing them to announce to
 representatives of the governments concerned the decision of the
 United States to extend full recognition, and suggested press releases
 to be issued here after the above notifications have been made (Tab C)
 and (Tab D).
 Subject to your approval, it is suggested that our Mission in Tel
 Aviv become an Embassy and that Mr. James G. McDonald, who is
your Special Representative, be named Ambassador to Israel. It is
also suggested that Mr. Wells Stabler, a Foreign Service Officer who

  See memorandum of August 30, 1948, by the Secretary of State to President
Truman, and footnote 1, Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. v, Part 2, p. 1359.
  See telegram Telmar 97, October 24, 1948, to Paris, ibid., p. 1512.
  'The tabs cited in this memorandum are not printed.


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