Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, The Far East, Volume V

867N.01/2282

Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Stettinius)²⁶

[Washington,] February 19, 1944.

At yesterday’s Cabinet meeting the Palestine resolution was thoroughly discussed. The President expressed the opinion to Secretary Stimson that it was important for his letter on the matter to be made public.²⁷ The Secretary replied that he first wished to try the executive session method and hoped that Mr. McCloy²⁸ and General Handy²⁹ would be able to stop the resolution in executive session. He added that General Marshall was anxious that the letter not be made public but that he would review the matter with the General again. I stated that the State Department felt it was important for the letter to be made public.

E[dward] S[tettinius]

26. Addressed to the Assistant Secretary of State (Long), the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Murray), and the Deputy Director (Alling).
27. The letter (February 7, p. 563) was not made public.
28. John J. McCloy, Assistant Secretary of War.
29. Maj. Gen. Thomas T. Handy of the War Department General Staff.