Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Israel Abba Eban, David Goitein, and John A. Waldo

4388 SONPIBENTIAL - INFORMATION S/S e DECLASSIFIED Le O. 11632, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (E) 92 Dept. al Staze leter, 5-62-31 MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION Ba w.T. HC NARS Date 7-14-26 73 March 6, , 1952. SUBJECT: Visit of Israel Ambassador PARTICIPANTS: The Secretary Israel Ambassador Abba Eban and HATIONAL RECORDS AND Israel Minister David Goitein Mr. Waldo - NE COPIES TO: s/s (2) G NEA NE BNA DRN CIA UNA London Paris Ankara Karachi Arab capitals Tel Aviv Jerusalem Problem: Evaluate reports of more favorable attitude toward Israel on the part of the Arab states. Action Required: As above Action Assigned NE to: The Ambassador referred to previous discussions in the Department concerning the Anglo-Egyptian difficulties and Israel's interest in a satisfactory solution of the Suez Canal question. He described the various favorable develop- ments which had occurred recently bearing on Arab-Israel re- lations. These included meetings between high Israel and Arab officials on the Mixed Armistice Commission level, re- ports in Arab newspopers of a more favorable Arab attitude toward Israel, and Statements of the Arabs themselves, par- ticularly Egyptian representatives, and Sir Zafrullah Khan of Pakistan in Cairo which might indicate that the Arab states would soon consider placing their relations with Israel on a more normal basis. The Ambassador said that his Govern- ment was heartened by these developments, but they were main- taining a cautious attitude toward them. He stressed that the Egyptian representatives in Paris took a more concilia- tory attitude toward the Israelis than any of the other Arab delegations, and said that if the Egyptians agreed to make peace his Government had no doubt that all of the other Arab governments would fall into line. The Ambassador then requested that the Department ask the American representative in Cairo to inquire discreetly of the Egyptian Government whether the rumors of a more favorable Egyptian attitude had any significance. I said that, as the Ambassador was well aware, the US had always done its best to promote peace between the Arab states and Israel. We had frequently made known our views on this GORFIDI