S-0865-0001-03-00001
Expanded Number S-0866-0001 -03-00001
Title Items-in-Peace-keeping operations - Middle East - envelope No. 1 - letters to Mr. Levi Eshkol, Prime Minister of Israel, and to President Nasser of UAR
Date Created 2710511967
Record Type Archival Item
Container S-0865-0001: Peace-Keeping Operations Files of the Secretary-General: U Thant - Middle East
Print Name of Person Submit Image SgaueoSignature of PersonesnSbi Submit
OMMOM I ------SECRBET
Y 27 May 1967
Excellency,
It is only because of my deep concern - a concern which
I know you fully share - that the Near East will be plunged once
again into the catastrophe of war that I take the liberty of addressing to you this strong and urgent personal appeal.
As you know, intensive efforts are being made here and in other places to find ]means of averting that war. The imperative immediate need is for time in which these efforts can have a reasonable chance to achieve constructive results. I am fully aware of your Government's firm position with regard to freedom of innocent passage through the Strait of Tiran and
I would not and do not ask you to do anything which would in any
sense compromise your position. I address you in this urgent way only to advise you that it is my understanding that. in the
normal course of things, in the next fortnight, no flagship of Israel will be seeking passage through the Strait of Tiran and to say to you that I hope very much that this is the case.
I must appeal to you and to all concerned for this necessary time,
His Excellency Mr. Levi Eshkol Prime Minister of Israel Jerusalem 1. C 0 p Y short as it is, in support of earnest efforts to avert war. I can assure you that I personally, and the international community generally, would greatly appreciate any possible helpfulness. I do not ask for any undertaking from you, nor indeed do I request or expect a reply to this communication.
I assure you that this message is strictly private, personal and confidential and will not be released in any form. To repeat, my sole interest is to gain a short period of two weeks in which every effort may be exerted here and elsewhere to find a way to stave off a war in the Near East which, as
I have said in my Report to the Security Council dated 26 May 1967, 1 greatly fear could ensue from a clash over the Strait of Tiran.
Accept, Excellency, the Assurances of my highest consideration.
U Thant
2. Co SECRBET0 P Y 27 May 1967 His Excellency Mr. Gamal Abdel Nasser President of the United Arab Republic Cairo United Arab Republic Mr. President., I know fron my recent talks with you and Foreign Minister Riad that you will be fully understanding of my motivation in making this direct, personal and most urgent appeal to you. You
will note that what I now beseech you to do springs solely from my desire, and from the solemn obligation I feel, to do everything
that I possibly can to avert the catastrophe of a new war in the
Near East. During my visit to Cairo your position and policy
with regard to the Strait of Tiran was made fully clear to me.
I wish to emphasize that a favourable reaction by you to this appeal would be without prejudice to that position and policy. I am seeking time, even a short period of time, in order to provide a reasonable opportunity for consultations and other international efforts to find a way out of the existing critical
situation. To this end I appeal to you, Mr. President, without
asking any commitment from you or indeed any reply to this message, to avoid for a period of two weeks from your receipt of it any interference with non-Israel shipping seeking passage through
the Strait of Tiran. In this regard, I should advise you that in any case it is my understanding that in the normal course of things, no flagship of Israel is expected to seek passage through the Strait of Tiran.
1 . C 0 P Y
Tcan assure you that I personally, and the international community generally, would greatly appreciate such a gesture by you.
I assure you also that this message is entirely personal, private and confidential and will not be released in any form. Please be assured of my best wishes and personal regards
U Thant
2.