867N.01/1280: Telegram
The Minister Resident in Iraq (Knabenshue) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 14—11:45 a.m.]
47. In continuation of my telegram No. 46, November 10, 9 a.m., large numbers of shops remained closed until adequate police protection became evident on Saturday.
[Page 988]While the opposition debating Palestine question in the Iraqi Parliament affected dissatisfaction with the recent British proposals and characterized them as further procrastination, the Minister for Foreign Affairs who paid me a personal visit last evening expressed satisfaction with the proposals saying that they [apparent omission] as far as can properly be expected at this juncture and that with the partition scheme discarded the way is now open negotiation of the remaining most vital namely Jewish immigration, even with the rebellion continuing in the meantime. He is particularly pleased by the inclusion of neighboring Arab countries in the discussions. He believes that the Palestine Arabs would lay down their arms if British Government would accept as basis of discussion either the second or third amended drafts of the Hyamson–Newcombe proposals (see my letter to Wallace Murray of March 3rd last). However, he is skeptical of the successful outcome of the discussions in securing mutual agreement between the Arabs and Jews and believes that in the end the British will be obliged to decide and enforce their own policy.
Nuri as-Said who visited me last Friday holds substantially the same views as the Minister for Foreign Affairs.