Thomas Campbell Wasson (1896 – May 23, 1948) was an American diplomat who was assassinated while serving as the Consul General for the United States in Jerusalem. Wasson was also a member of United Nations Truce Commission.[1]
Contents |
Career
Wasson was born 1896 in Essex, New Jersey. From 1926 to 1929, he served as the United States Vice Consul in Melbourne, Australia. In 1932, he was Vice Consul in Puerto Cortes, Honduras and in 1938, he became the Consul in Lagos, Nigeria.[2] In April 1948, Wasson was appointed as the Consul General for the US in Jerusalem, Palestine.
Assassination
Just after 2.00pm May 22 1948, Wasson was shot. He had been returning to the US Consulate from a meeting of the UN Truce Commission at the French Consulate in Jerusalem. While crossing Wauchope Street (now Abraham Lincoln/Hess) to enter the alley leading to the Consulate, he was shot by a .30 caliber rifle. The bullet entered his chest via his right upper arm and left level to his second costal cartilage.[3] Wasson died on May 23 1948.[4][5]
An article in The Scotsman newspaper on May 25 quoted an Israeli Government statement that Wasson "was killed by Arab bullets". The Military Governor of Jerusalem, Dov Joseph, wrote "Unfortunately Mr. Wesson (sic) was shot on May 22 by an Arab sniper."[6] The New York Post stated that Abdullah I of Jordan claimed Wasson was shot by an Israeli assassin[7], however the New York Times reported that Wasson "on his death bed stated that Arabs had shot him." This story was later retracted.[8]
Bertha Spafford Vester in the first edition of her history of the American Colony, "Our Jerusalem", quotes the entry for her diary dated 23 May 1948 : "Our American Consul, Mr. Robert Wasson was shot by Jews on Friday and died today."[9]
Quotes
Quotes from Wasson's reports to the United States State Department around the time of his death include:
On April 15 1948, in a report concerning the Hadassah Hospital Convoy Massacre, Wasson wrote, "American correspondent eye witnessed removal from trucks large quantities arms and ammunition and speculated whether for escort or other purpose."
On April 17 1948, he wrote " . . . queried as to whether convoy included armoured cars, Haganah guards, arms and ammunition in addition to doctors, nurses and patients, Kohn [of the Jewish Agency] replied in affirmative saying it was necessary to protect convoy."[10]
On May 18 1948, Wasson wrote "Looting in the captured Arab areas has now been so widespread and has been regarded with such indifference by the authorities that it is difficult not to think it is officially tolerated."[11]
One of his reports records the British Consul having a 'narrow escape'[12] and he also attempted to stop the Arab Legion shelling of the Hadassah Hospital and Hebrew University on Mount Scopus.[13]
Harry Levin's Jerusalem Embattled (1950) and Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre's O Jerusalem! (1972) which recount the fighting around Jerusalem from Israeli perspectives do not mention Wasson's death.
He was replaced by the Vice-Consul, Mr William Burdette.[14]
Other diplomats killed in Jerusalem in 1948
Count Folke Bernadotte - United Nations Mediator to Palestine. He was assassinated in Jerusalem in 1948 by the militant Zionist group Lehi, while pursuing his official duties.
Manuel Allende Salazar - Spanish Consul killed when the Haganah blew up the Semiramis Hotel.
Notes
- ^ 'Taking Sides', Stephen Green, Faber And Faber, 1984. ISBN 0-571-13271-5
- ^ [www.politicalgraveyard.com]political graveyard web site. Omits subsequent Jerusalem posting
- ^ UN Security Council, telegram S/771, 22 May 1948
- ^ [www.afsa.org/plaquelist.cfm] American Foreign Service Association web site: 'shot by sniper'
- ^ 'Our Jerusalem', Bertha Spafford Vester, Copyright dated 1950, printed in Lebanon. p.379 quotes diary: 'shot by Jews'
- ^ 'The Faithful City', Simon and Schuster, 1960. p.219
- ^ America’s Sorry Record in Failing to Protect Flag or Citizen Abroad Since Nov., New York Post, Tuesday, June 8, 1948
- ^ Stephen Green 'Taking Sides'.Faber & Faber. 1984. ISBN 0-571-13271-5. pp.32/33. quoting New York Times May 23 and June 5, 1948
- ^ "Our Jerusalem. An American Family in the Holy City 1881-1949." p.379. Published by the Middle East Export Press.INC. Printed in Lebanon. Copyright, 1950 Bertha Spafford Vesta and Evelyn Wells. This cannot be the date of publication since chapter 32 refers to events in June 1954. p.375. See discussion in talk page.
- ^ Telegrams 439 & 455, Jerusalem Consular Files, Series 800 Palestine, Record Group 84, National Archives
- ^ 'O Jerusalem', Larry Collins, Dominique Lapierre. 1972. p.588
- ^ The Scotsman, May 18 1948: 'The British Consul in Jerusalem had a “narrow escape” when the Consulate came under gunfire, dispatches from the US Consul to the State Department in Washington disclosed yesterday.'
- ^ The Scotsman, May 22nd 1948:'The American Consul is reported to have contacted the Legion requesting it to stop firing on Jewish positions in and around the buildings. The Legion Commander replied that the buildings were being used by Jewish forces to mortar and machine-gun the Arab-occupied Sheikh Jarrah quarter and handed the Consul surrender terms to convey to the Jews. The Commander asked that all fighting Jews in the hospital and University surrender as prisoners of war and that all doctors, nurses, professors, and scientists be handed over to the Red Cross.
- ^ The Scotsman, May 24th, 1948.