Disagrees With U.S. Position On Refugees
(June 2, 1961)
3238. Palestine refugees. Stevenson talked with Ben Gurion June 1. Stevenson
made emphatic representation that US feels Israel should accept repatriation
of Arab refugees and feels it unrealistic expect Arabs accept resettlement
as only solution. He further enlarged on possibility of practical phased
program, with balanced repatriation, resettlement and compensation, which
would not endanger Israel's security.
Ben Gurion expressed equally emphatic disagreement and said that with
repatriation Nasser will send his army into Israel behind refugees;
refugees would repatriate only with support of Egyptian army. He further
expressed view Arabs will not accept three points of emigration, repatriation
and resettlement. He also rejected view that once psychological barrier
represented by acceptance, i.e. principle of repatriation, broken, it
would not take place in large numbers, and resettlement in Arab and
non-Arab lands would follow.
He added Jordan and Lebanon ready live in peace with Israel now, but
Egypt called the turn in ME and Nasser ambitions win all of Arab world
could only be accomplished by destroying Israel.
Ben Gurion repeated familiar position that only by peace settlement
can repatriation and resettlement be achieved.
He added prospects for peace would be increased if Kennedy and Khrushchev
would guarantee all of ME boundaries, and that ultimately peace will
follow if Israel continues its effective work in non-Arab countries.
Egypt will have make peace to maintain its position in such countries.
Teddy Kollek pointed out repatriation problem now centered in 250,000
refugees in Gaza Strip who had no other hope. He added Ben Gurion more
open minded than on arrival (presume he meant willingness cooperate
with PCC).
Ambassador Comay asked Stevenson for opportunity discuss possibilities
of repatriation and resettlement further on Stevenson's return from
LA. Stevenson had feeling he and Kollek, at least, were impressed with
difficulties in Congress and changing attitude in this country./2/
/2/On June 13, USUN reported that, in a recent conversation, Israeli
diplomat Arad had told U.S. officials that Israel had noted the marked
difference between what President Kennedy had said to Ben Gurion about
the Palestinian refugees and what Ambassador Stevenson had said. The
U.S. officials responded that the two conversations were complementary
and reflected an identical policy. If Secretary Rusk had been able to
meet with Ben Gurion, he would have repeated the same points made by
Stevenson. Arad maintained that Ben Gurion had agreed with the President
to seek a solution based on "repatriation, compensation, and resettlement,"
but Stevenson had gone beyond this and said that Israel should now make
a public declaration accepting the principle of repatriation. (Telegram
3312 from USUN; ibid., 884.411/6-1361)
Stevenson
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 884.411/6-261. Secret;
Priority; Limit Distribution.
Sources: The
United States Department of State |