867n.01/1381: Telegram
The Chargé in Egypt (Merriam) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 18—8:30 a.m.]
4. The first Arab meeting preliminary to the London Conference was held here yesterday. It included representatives from Egypt, Palestine, Transjordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the Yemen. The Egyptian Prime Minister presided. The viewpoints of the various delegations were expressed but not made public. The delegates from the Palestine following their recent contact with the Mufti are understood to have asked support for the following demands: (1) Complete and immediate stoppage of Jewish immigration; (2) a statement from the British that the Balfour Declaration has been fulfilled; (3) establishment of an Arab National Government and the conclusion of a treaty between it and the British Government similar to the treaty between Great Britain and Iraq.
It is believed that the Palestinian delegates also insist upon speaking for the Arabs of Palestine to the exclusion of any other and specifically the Nashashibi19 group.
- Ragheb Bey-Nashashibi, leader of the Palestine National Defence Party.↩