Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The Far East; The Near East and Africa, Volume IV

867N.01/1485: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State

London, March 20, 1939—4 p.m.
[Received March 20—1:25 p.m.]

368. Personal for the President. Department’s No. 198, March 19, 7 p.m. I saw MacDonald and Halifax about the Palestine matter. It will be held up in accordance with your suggestion and you will be notified before they put anything into effect.

MacDonald told me their difficulty is with the territory contiguous to Palestine. The Germans and Italians are making inroads into that territory and the British are disturbed. The unsettled conditions in Palestine require some kind of immediate statement from the British and if world conditions remain unsettled, the British may find it necessary to put into effect a temporary arrangement pending final determination.

At any rate, the matter is being held up until they see how things turn out within the next week.

Kennedy