Stalin, Soviets and İsraeli Question - then and now - 3
NOTE FROM THE HEAD OF THE MIDDLE EASTERN DEPARTMENT USSR MFA
I. N. BAKULINA TO DEPUTY MINISTER FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE USSR V.A. ZORIN
May 15, 1948 z.
Secret
Until 1914 in Palestine, the Russian government had one consulate
general in Jerusalem (opened in 1858) and two consulates - in Haifa (opened in
1842) and in Jaffa (opened in 1820).
In 1914, in connection with the First World War, all three consulates
were closed and the buildings were seized by the Turks.
In 1922, having received a mandate for Palestine, England captured the building of the consulate general in Jerusalem (only one of this building is the property of the USSR) and used it at its own discretion.
19 February 1947 Comrade Malt, in one of his letters, asked about the
advisability of opening our consulate in Jerusalem *, however, in connection
with the Palestinian problem, this issue did not receive further development,
especially since permission to open this consulate had to be asked from the
mandate holder.
Currently, after the abolition of the Palestinian mandate, pending the establishment of relations with Palestine, it would be expedient to send one of the members of our mission in Lebanon to Jerusalem as a representative of the mission to protect Soviet property in Jerusalem.
I. Bakulin
AVP RF, f. 0118, op. 2, p. 3, d. 11, l. 168
TELEGRAM OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF ISRAEL M. SHERTOK TO THE
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS USSR V.M. MOLOTOV
May 15, 1948
I have the honor to inform you and ask you to inform to your government that the National Council of the Jewish State, composed of members of elected representatives of the Jewish organizations of Palestine, met yesterday, May 14, after the termination of the British Mandate, and on the basis of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly of November 29, 1947 proclaimed the formation of an independent Jewish state in Palestine, which will be called the State of Israel. The Council declared that the State of Israel will be open to immigration of Jews from all countries in which they are scattered; will contribute to the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; will be based on the principles of freedom, justice and peace; uphold the full social and political equality of all citizens regardless of race, creed or gender; will guarantee complete freedom of conscience, religion, education, culture and language; will safeguard the sanctity and integrity of the temples and holy places of all religions and will devote itself to upholding the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
The Council also announced that the State of Israel would be ready to cooperate with the organs and representatives of the United Nations in the implementation of the Assembly resolution of November 29, 1947 and will take steps to ensure the formation of an economic union for all of Palestine. The Council called upon the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to return to the path of peace and play their part in our development through full and equal citizenship and due representation in her government, temporary and permanent. The Council also offered peace to all neighboring states and their peoples and invited them to cooperate with the State of Israel for the common good for all.
On behalf of the Provisional Government of Israel, I hereby request official
recognition of the State of Israel and of the Provisional Government by the
government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. I express the hope that
such recognition will soon follow, and I am sure that it will strengthen
friendly relations between the Soviet Union and her peoples, on the one hand,
and the State of Israel and the Jewish people of Palestine, on the other hand,
as well as serve the cause of peace and justice in international relations in
general.
I take this opportunity to express the deep gratitude and understanding
of the Jewish people of Palestine, shared by Jews around the world, for the
firm position taken by the USSR delegation to the UN in support of the
formation of an independent sovereign Jewish state in Palestine; for her
consistent promotion of this idea, despite all the difficulties; for her
expression of genuine sympathy for the suffering of the Jewish people in Europe
at the hands of Nazi torturers and for her support of the principle that the
Jews of Palestine are a nation deserving of sovereignty and independence.
JSA. ! 30.02 / 2424/19.
On behalf of the Provisional Government of Israel
Moshe Shertok,
Foreign Secretary
Publ .: International life. - 1998.- No. 10.- P. 90.
[lersvod from English.
TELEGRAM OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE USSR V.M. MOLOTOV TO
THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF ISRAIL M. SHERTOKU
May 18, 1948
I acknowledge receipt of your telegram of May 16, in which you inform
the Government of the USSR about the proclamation on the basis of the UN
General Assembly resolution of November 29, 1947 creation of an independent
State of Israel in Palestine and ask for recognition by the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics of the State of Israel and its Provisional Government *.
I hereby inform you that the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics has made a decision on the official recognition of the State of Israel
and its Provisional Government.
The Soviet Government hopes that the creation by the Jewish people of
their sovereign state will serve the cause of strengthening peace and security
in Palestine and the Middle East and expresses confidence in the successful
development of friendly relations between the USSR and the State of Israel.
AVP RF, f. 89, op. 1, p. 1, d. 4, l. five.
USSR Minister of Foreign Affairs
V. Molotov
Publ .: International life. - 1998. - No. 10. - P. 91.
EXCHANGE OF TELEGRAMS BETWEEN THE FOREIGN MINISTER DEJ1 OF ISRAEL M. SHERTOK AND THE MINISTER FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE USSR V.M. MOLOTOV
1. Telegram from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel M. Shertok
May 24, 1948
I have the honor to express to you the deepest satisfaction with which
my government took note of the message on the official recognition of the State
of Israel by the government of the USSR, kindly conveyed to us in your telegram
dated May 18. The Government of the State of Israel fully shares the wishes so
generously expressed by you and reaffirms its firm hope, based on the events
that led to the creation of our government, that the most friendly relations
can be established between the State of Israel and the Soviet Union. To this
end, we ask you to deign to inform us whether you agree that the State of
Israel immediately establish its mission in Moscow, consisting of an envoy or
chargé d'affaires and a consul general, and that at the same time a Soviet
mission be established in Tel Aviv of the same rank.
On behalf of the Provisional Council of State of Israel
Moshe Shertok,
Foreign Secretary
AVP RF, f. For - Israel, op. /, p. /, d. 2, l. /.
Telegram of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR V.M. Molotov
May 25, 1948
I acknowledge receipt of your telegram dated May 24, 1948, in which you ask the consent of the government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the State of Israel to immediately establish its mission in Moscow and that at the same time a Soviet mission be established in Tel Aviv.
I hereby have the honor to inform you that the Soviet government agrees
to the establishment of a mission of the State of Israel in Moscow headed by an
envoy or chargé d'affaires, including the performance of consular functions,
and, in turn, is ready to establish a Soviet mission in Tel Aviv.
V. Molotov
Foreign Minister: l
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
On the document of the litter: “Comrade. Stalin. For approval. 25. V
".
AVP RF, f. 06, op. 10, p. 46, d. 622, l. 17.
SEND CONVERSATIONS OF THE ADVISOR OF THE MISSION OF THE USSR IN ISRAEL ML.
MUKHIN WITH ISRAELI CITIZEN S.V. TSIRULNIKOV
August 13, 1948 z.
Secret
(Extracts S.M)
(…)
Currently, the main political force is the Mapai Party, the Palestinian
Workers' Party, which is most represented in the State Council and in the
government. All of its leaders, in particular Ben-Gurion, Shertok, Remez, and
others, hold key government posts. The party also dominates the trade unions.
The Davar newspaper, which is formally the organ of the Histadrut, actually
serves as the organ of the party.
The proportion of the Mapai party in the labor movement is about 60% and
40% - in national political life.
The second party in this respect is Mapam - the United Workers' Party,
which has two portfolios in the government: public works and agriculture - and
a serious influence in the army, since it unites a significant part of the
country's agricultural communes, kibbutzim, which are an important reserve for
recruiting not only the private, but also the commanding staff of the army.
This party was created by uniting Akhdut ha-avoda - "Unity of Labor"
with Poalei Zion - "Workers of Zion" and with the party Hashomer
ha-tsair - "Young Guard". Party leaders: Tabenkin, Hari Heder, Sne
(Kleinbaum). The Communist Party is extremely small and does not enjoy
significant influence.
The Provisional Government of Israel in its present composition is not in
fact renounced a pro-British orientation and, as a tribute to the times, is
ready to cooperate in many respects with the United States. Anti-England
governments have nothing to do with the real thoughts of their authors. This is
just an attempt to increase their prestige in the eyes of the British, to show
that they are worth doing, that they can be of interest to them. In fact, the
current government leaders did nothing to find the right paths for the
development of the young state in the face of the split of the world into two
camps.
(…)
These leaders came to power at the time of camouflage, on the crest of
international events. It is not enough to define their actual attitude towards
the Soviet Union as neutral, it is hostile. This is proved by Ben-Gurion's rude
and offensive phrase in relation to J.V. Stalin, which he admitted in the
circle of his supporters, which has now become known more widely.
During a request to the State Council about the motives that served as
the basis for the appointment of Golda Meyerson as an envoy to the USSR,
Shertok replied that Meyerson is strong because she is not able to be guided by
feelings of sympathy and go along with other people's policies. At the same
time, her pro-American views are well known. As for Weizmann, he is now kept in
the shadows, because he is too entangled in the English networks, and this
circumstance can harm now not only his personal authority, but also general
politics.
The desire of our leadership to go to direct negotiations with Arabs - nothing more than a desire to find a common language with the top of the Arab circles, which are directly dependent on the Anglo-American masters.
(..)
Even the war with the Arabs itself wore, unfortunately, in many cases,
not the nature of the liberation movement, but a nationalist war, accompanied
by completely unnecessary repression and robbery of the Arab population, i.e.
and in this case, there was no unity of action necessary and useful for
strengthening the prestige of Israel's policy. These are the first days of the
confused and complex life of our state.
Tsirulnikov led the underground youth Zionist organizations, shared the
Menshevik program. For his activities he was repressed and spent a long time in
many prisons in various cities of the Union. In 1928 allegedly at the
request of a number of Jewish Palestinian organizations, he was allowed to
leave for Palestine. At present, he is a companion of the owner of one
international trade enterprise, which provides him with an independent economic
position. He sees political independence in his broad theoretical training
("unlike the current leaders of the country"), he completely shares
the Marxist ideology, which gave him the opportunity to free himself from loads
of old mistakes. He is not a member of any party; this gave him the opportunity
in difficult conditions to freely and independently act and work in favor of
the Soviet Union. Recently, he has been mainly engaged in personal affairs, he
is going to write a book criticizing his previous positions.
Tsirulnikov leaves the impression of a rather developed and informed
person.
(…)
Counselor to the USSR Mission in Israel
M. Mukhin
AVP RF, f. 089, op. 1, p. 1, d. 4, l. 30-33.
M.P. FEDORINA ABOUT THE MEETING OF A LEAGUE OF FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH
THE USSR
August 14, 1948
Secret
(…)
On August 14, 1948, on behalf of the envoy, Comrade P.I.Ershov, I was
present as a representative of the Soviet mission in Israel and BOKS at a
solemn meeting organized by the League of Friendly Relations with the USSR in
honor of the visit of our mission to Israel.
The meeting took place in the hall of one of the largest cinemas in Tel
Aviv "Esther". It was attended by about 1800 people.
In addition, about a thousand people gathered on the street. Inside and
outside the building was radio-equipped. The hall was decorated with the flags
of the Soviet Union and Israel. Above the presidium table was a large portrait
of Comrade Stalin, under it was the slogan in Russian and Hebrew: "Long
live friendship between the State of Israel and the USSR!"
When I appeared in the hall with the Secretary General of the League,
Tarnopoler, those present stood and greeted us with prolonged applause. The
presidium was: Secretary General of the League Tarnopoler, from the Israeli
Communist Party - S. Mikunis, from the so-called. Jewish Communist Party.:.
Harari, from O. United Labor Party Mapam - Dr. Sne, Ilanit, Zerubawel, from
Labor Party Mapai - Friedman, and others.
(…)
Dr. Snee said in his speech:
“I will allow myself to frankly tell our guest, the representative of
the Soviet Union, that our people love the Soviet Union, our people believe in
the Soviet Union, which supported us and never let us down, and we, for our
part, swear that we will never let the Soviet Union down. and we will devote
all our efforts to strengthening friendship and an inviolable alliance with our
Great friend, defender of humanity - the Soviet Union. "
Mikunis made a bright speech, who called on everyone to fight against
Anglo-American imperialism, for the complete independence of Israel, for
strengthening friendship with the Soviet Union, etc. Ero's speech was
repeatedly interrupted by prolonged applause and cheers. All speeches were interrupted
by loud applause at the mention of the Soviet Union, Soviet representatives in
the UN (Comrades Gromyko, Manuilskoro, Tsarapkina), the first Soviet envoy to
Israel, etc. After the greetings, the chorus of working youth sang the Jewish
anthem, the anthem of the Soviet Union and the Internationale, which was sung
by almost everyone in the hall. After that, the choir sang several Soviet
("March of the Artillerymen", "Song of Budyonny", etc.) and
Jewish songs.
Second Secretary of the USSR Mission in Israel
M. Fedorin
AVP RF, f. 089, op. 1, p. 1, d. 4, 11.54-55.
NOTE OF THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE USSR G.M.
MALENKOV 'TO THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE CC CPSU (B), CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL
OF MINISTERS OF THE USSR I.V. STALIN
September 18, 1948
Comrade Stalin.
Before leaving, you gave instructions to prepare an article on Israel.
The case was somewhat delayed due to the absence of Ehrenburg in Moscow.
Ehrenburg arrived the other day. Kaganovich, Pospelov and Ilyichev and I
had a conversation with him. Ehrenburg agreed to write the article and spoke
out against the article being published with several signatures.
I will emit for you an article by I. Ehrenburg “Concerning one letter”.
If there are no other instructions on your part, we would like to
publish this article on Tuesday, September 21, in the Pravda newspaper.
G. Malenkov
ATTACHMENT
(Extract S.M)
(…)
Representatives of the Soviet Union in the United Nations said that our
people understand the feelings of Jews who survived the greatest tragedy and
finally got the right to exist on their land. Wishing success to the workers of
Israel, the Soviet people do not close their eyes to the trials that await all
honest people of the young state. In addition to the invasion of the Anglo-Arab
hordes, Israel knows another invasion, less loud, but no less dangerous - the
Anglo-American capital. For the imperialists, Palestine is primarily oil.
Competition between predators - Standard Oil, on the one hand, Anglo-Iranian Oil
Company and Shell, on the other, interferes in the life of a fragile state. The
interests of the Potash Palestine Company concern, the issue of the
Kirkuk-Haifa oil pipeline, the American projects of concessions and military
bases - this is what threatens Israel after the thugs of King Abdullah. The
state of Israel is not headed by workers' representatives. We have all seen how
the bourgeoisie of European countries, with their great traditions, with their
old statehood, betrayed their national interests in the name of the dollar.
Moryr whether the Soviet people expect that the bourgeois of Israel will be
more conscientious and perspicacious than the bourgeoisie of France or Italy?
Unlikely. We trust the peoples, but if in Israel the people are struggling and fighting bravely, this does not mean that the people rule there.
There are many workers in the State of Israel, both urban and rural. The
whole burden of the country's defense fell on them. At the same time, they have
to fight against the greed of their bourgeoisie, for which the war, as well as
for any bourgeoisie, is, first of all, profit. It is not for nothing that
Mikunis, the secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the
State of Israel, recently said: "We have neither property tax, nor profit
tax, our industrialists have shamelessly raised their profits."
I believe that the advanced people of Israel, her workers will find the
right way in extremely difficult conditions. I am convinced, that socialism
will triumph throughout the world, it will triumph in Palestine as well. But if
I believe in the future of Israel, then to the second question of my
correspondent, who asks whether the creation of this state is a solution to the
so-called Jewish question, I must answer in the negative.
I have always thought and continue to think that the "Jewish
question" can be resolved everywhere only by a general social and,
consequently, spiritual process. To resolve it is not a matter of utopians, and
not of diplomats, but of workers of all countries. I admired the courage of the
Israeli fighters when they repulsed the attacks of the British mercenaries, but
I knew that the resolution of the "Jewish question" did not depend on
military successes in Palestine, but on the victory of socialism over capitalism,
on the victory of the high international principles inherent in the working
class over nationalism, fascism, and racism.
(…)
Yes, many Jews left their homeland and emigrated to America. But they
did not emigrate because they did not love their land, but because violence and
abuse deprived them of this beloved land. Did some Jews sometimes seek
salvation in other countries? Is not it did the Italians, Irish, Slavs of the
countries that were under the yoke of the Turks and Germans, Armenians, Russian
sectarians? Jewish workers, like all others, are firmly attached to the land on
which they were born and raised.
(…)
The fate of the Jewish workers of all countries is connected not with
the fate of the State of Israel, but with the fate of progress, with the fate
of socialism.
Soviet Jews, together with all Soviet people, are now rebuilding their
socialist homeland. They are not looking to the Middle East; they are looking
to the future. And I think that the working people of the State of Israel, far
from the mysticism of the Zionists, who seek justice, are now looking to the
north - to the Soviet Union, which is ahead of humanity towards a better
future.
Ilya Ehrenburg
On the document: "Comrade Stalin agrees."
AP RF, f. 3, op. 65, d.7, l. 167-177.
ORDER OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE USSR ON EXIT TO ISRAEL RUSSIAN
SPIRITUAL MISSION
October 14, 1948
Secret
Allow the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church under
the Council of Ministers of the USSR to give the consent of the Moscow
Patriarchate to leave the USSR for the State of Israel for the permanent work
of Archimandrite Leonid (Ilya Khristoforovich Lobachev) as the head of the
Russian spiritual mission in Jerusalem and Vladimir Yelkhovsky as a priest
missions.
Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR
I. Stalin
TELEPHONOGRAM OF
THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE USSR V.M. MOLOTOV TO THE GENERAL SECRETARY
OF THE CC VKP (B), CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE USSR I.V. STALIN
October 19, 1948
Secret
On October 14, the representatives of China and Great Britain in the Security Council submitted a joint draft resolution in connection with the latest events in Palestine. In this draft, after mentioning the murder of Bernadotte and the fact that the Government of Israel has not yet submitted a progress report on the murder, it is proposed that the Palestinian governments and authorities allow free access to the armistice monitoring personnel in all places where they need to be by virtue of their duties, and have taken all measures to ensure the safety of the monitoring personnel and representatives of the mediator.
Vyshinsky, in his telegram No. 388, proposes not to object to
this draft and to vote in favor. According to Vyshinsky's community, Jews only
complain that there are more UN observers (54 people) in the territory they
control than in Arab territory (32 people). In this regard, Vyshinsky proposes
to add an addition to the resolution, in which to point out the desirability of
an equal distribution of UN observers on the territory of both sides.
Considering that at one time we did not object to the creation of the
Armistice Commission and insisted on the participation of Soviet
representatives as observers, I believe that one can agree with Vyshinsky's
proposal. Please approve.
V. Molotov
On the document of the paper: “Comrade Stalin agrees.
P [oskrebyshev]. "
AVP RF, f. 06, op. 10, p. 15, d. 161, l. 6.
Translated From Russian; Svitlana M
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