867N.01/1271: Telegram
The Consul General at Beirut (Palmer) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 11—10:40 a.m.]
Am reliably but confidentially informed that while the Grand Mufti finds British Palestine proposals less than he hoped for they are as much as he expected and are considered by him as offering a possibility for useful discussion. Apparently reconciled to British refusal to treat with him he insists and seems confident that the rebels in Palestine will insist that in any discussions that may take place they shall be represented by persons freely chosen from among their leaders rather than from among those acceptable to the British but not qualified to speak for the large number of Arabs now in the rebel ranks and their loyal supporters.