§ 63. Mr. G. Longdenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish the terms of the ultimatum addressed to Israel by His Majesty's Government in 1948 in regard to a withdrawal behind the frontier line.
§ Sir R. Boothbyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish the terms of the ultimatum addressed by His Majesty's Government to Israel in 1948.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyOn 30th December, 1948, on receipt of evidence that notwithstanding the Truce and United Nations resolutions, Israeli forces were fighting on Egyptian territory and were in possession of airfields there, Her Majesty's Government, who at that time had no relations with the Provisional Government of Israel, drew the attention of the United States Government to the situation and to the existence of their 1936 Treaty obligations to Egypt, which Her Majesty's Government might have to fulfil. Her Majesty's Government pointed out that they had no desire to get into conflict with the Israelis providing they accepted and acted on the decisions of the Security Council. They therefore hoped that the United States Government would so act on the Israelis as to make66W any military action by Her Majesty's Government on Egyptian territory unnecessary.
The United States Ambassador in Tel Aviv was instructed by his Government to make suitable representations to the Provisional Government of Israel, and on 3rd January, 1949, he was assured that all Israeli forces had been recalled and that none remained on Egyptian soil.
On 4th January, 1949, the State Department made a statement to the Press on the matter, the text of which is as follows:
The British Ambassador, Sir Oliver Franks, called on Acting Secretary of State Lovett last week to say that if Israeli forces did not withdraw from Egyptian territory the British Government would have to consider its position under its Treaty of Alliance with Egypt of 1936.Since reports had reached this Government that in the course of military operations Israeli forces had indeed crossed the Egyptian frontier and since this Government was concerned lest grave consequences ensue the American representative in Tel Aviv was instructed to draw this situation to the attention of the Provisional Government of Israel. This representation, made in the most friendly interest, has resulted in assurances by the Provisional Government of Israel that Israeli forces entered Egyptian territory solely in the course of military operations and not with the intention of occupying Egyptian territory. The Provisional Government further stated that all such forces have been recalled from Egypt and that no Israeli troops now remain on Egyptian soil. The American Embassy in Cairo has also been instructed to point out to the Egyptian Government that such incidents as the recent naval and aerial attacks in Palestine can only result in further extending the hostilities.These instructions to Tel Aviv and Cairo were sent in view of the great interest of the United States in the peace and security of the Middle East and in view of the concern of the United States at any action by either Israelis or Arabs containing a threat of enlargement of the conflict. The Department trusts that the parties in the Palestine conflict will now undertake to comply with the resolutions of the Security Council calling for a cease fire, a cessation of hostilities, and a prompt negotiation of a permanent armistice.