Extracts from a confidential report from Frederick H. Boland
to Seán Murphy (Dublin)
(Confidential)

[matter omitted]

I have tried to describe in previous reports the evolution of opinion here with regard to Israel’s attitude. In the beginning, there was much sympathy with her. It was felt that, to compel her to withdraw to the demarcation line without some guarantee that, at least, Egypt would refrain from exercising belligerent rights against Israeli shipping in future was unjust and unrealistic. Latterly, however, the current of opinion has been swinging against Israel. The feeling is that Premier Ben-Gurion is being altogether too intransigent, and there is some reason to think that this opinion is even shared by members of the Israeli delegation here. It is certainly shared by some of Israel’s principal supporters in the journalistic world, some of whom have started to voice doubts as to the wisdom of his stand. Ambassador Eban² has now left to discuss the matter with the Israeli Cabinet in Jerusalem and some faint hope exists that there may be some softening of the Israeli attitude as a result of his visit.

In the meantime, we shall have to make up our minds how we are going to vote if a resolution recommending sanctions against Israel is proposed in the Assembly. Obviously, we could not vote against such a resolution. The question is whether we should vote for it or abstain. This is a point on which I feel we should have specific instructions from the Minister, and we propose, therefore, to keep you telegraphically informed of developments between this and the final vote on the resolution.

In my view, which I stated before, the question of Israel’s withdrawal should never have been allowed to reach the present stage of crisis and it would not have done so if more diplomacy had been used at an earlier stage of the proceedings. That this was not done is due to the fact that too much was left to the Secretary General, and he, feeling he was not entitled to go outside the terms of the various resolutions which had been passed by the Assembly, had not the necessary scope for manoeuvre.

[matter omitted]