Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Israel Eliahu Elath, and Others

S/S 2922 DEPARTMENT OF STATE ant 40 Memorandum of Conversation DATE: January 31, 1950 SUBJECT: British Arms Shipments to the Arab States and Israel's Defense Needs. PARTICIPANTS: S - The Seczetary 82 REGORDS The Honorable Eliahu Elath, Ambassador of Israel in NFA - Ir. Hare Gay, and ANE - Mr. Rockwell COPIES TO: S/S (2), NEA (2), ANE, NEA/P, DRN, CIA, USUN, BNA, MD, Embassy, London; Embassy, Tel Aviv; Legation, Danascus; Embassy, Moscow; Embassy, Baghdad; Legation, Beirut; Embassy, Paris; Embassy, Jidda; Consulate General, Jerusalen; Embassy, Cairo; Legation, Amman; Consulate General, Geneva, for US del PCC, and US del, TC 1-1493 I received Ambassador Elath at his request. He stated that he had been instructed by his Government to take up with me the matter of British arns shipments to the Arab states. The Ambassador said that he had long been a student of the Arabs and folt that he know them very well. He believed that the defeat of the combined Arab states by the tiny new state of Israel was an event which the Arab leaders would never forget and. which they would do everything possible to avenge themselves for. Almost every day there were statements by responsible Arab personalities advocat- ing the resumption of hostilities. People in Israel had nade the same "stupid" kind of renarks, but the responsible leaders of the Israeli Government had never done so. The Israeli Government sincerely desired peace, and certainly wished to avoid the necessity of making large expenditures for military equipment. However, the shipment by the United Kingdom of arms to the Arab states when conditions in the Near Fast were still so delicate could have no effect but to encourage the Arab statesmen in their plans to recommence hostilities. The Ambassador added that the British shipment of arns, and my letter to Representative Javits on this subject, would also give people in the Arab states the impression that the United Kingdom and the United States approved the resumption of hostilities. Never since the establishment of the State of Israel had the leaders of his country been so apprehensivo for the security of the nation, the Ambassador continued. CLASONFIED B: O.. 11652, Sec. 3(B) and 5(D) er N Depr. of State letter, 1-26-79 NLT 78.72 HL Dultà 2.15.79