Feldman Expresses Concern Over Direct Negotiations
Resolution Circulated At UN
(October 2, 1962)
This is a memorandum from the President's Deputy
Special Counsel Myer Feldman to President Kennedy reporting of a meeting with Ambassador Harman emphasizing U.S. concern
over the direct negotiations resolution at the UN.
I called Ambassador Harman to re-emphasize our concern
over the direct negotiations resolution now being circulated by Israel
at the United Nations. I reminded the Ambassador of the commitment by
his Foreign Minister not to introduce the resolution and to prevent
any other nation from introducing that resolution. Ambassador Harman
acknowledged this commitment, but made these points:
1. It was also agreed that Israel could continue its
efforts to solicit support for the resolution.
2. If the United States took a position on vital questions
that might be introduced in the United Nations which made it necessary
to introduce the direct negotiations resolution, they would have to
do so.
When I pressed Ambassador Harman to state specifically
what Israel regarded as matters vitally affecting them which would require
resort to the direct negotiations resolution, he mentioned these three:
1. The custodian resolution--which we have always opposed.
2. The reconstitution of the PCC--which we have always opposed.
3. The Johnson Plan.
The Ambassador said that if the Johnson Plan was not
supported by the United States it would not be presented to the United
Nations. He did agree, however, that it would be appropriate to discuss
other solutions to the refugee problem. Israel regards the Johnson Plan
as non-negotiable but is perfectly willing to discuss other solutions,
including the kind of proposal I described in Jerusalem, if the poll
of refugees was attended by a cessation of Arab propaganda and the consent
of the Arab States to resettlement. They would also accept the numerical
limitations I indicated of one in ten being repatriated.
In any event, I said, if Israel planned to introduce
the direct negotiations resolution, we would regard it as very serious
if we were not informed in advance. Ambassador Harman promised to convey
this information to his Foreign Minister.
In summary, I would say that we have a firm commitment
that the direct negotiations resolution will not be introduced provided
we do not insist on the Johnson Plan.
Myer Feldman
Sources: Foreign
Relations of the United States, 1961-1963: Near East, 1962-1963,
V. XVIII. DC: GPO,
2000. |