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

867N.01/3–1844

Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Murray) to the Under Secretary of State (Stettinius)

[Washington,] March 18, 1944.

Mr. Stettinius: I think you would wish to know that after the meeting of your group⁸⁰ yesterday in the Secretary’s office, Dr. Bowman⁸¹ and I had a moment to discuss with the Secretary the attached draft text of a joint American-British statement on Palestine.⁸²

As you will recall, you sent the President the substance of such a statement during the Secretary’s absence⁸³ and the President approved of issuing it after consultation with the British.

During our conversation with the Secretary yesterday on this subject he expressed general approval of the attached form of the statement but suggested that we might hold it for discussion with the British when we get to London.

I think this procedure is a good one, particularly for the purpose of avoiding leaks that are almost inevitable if we start exchanging telegrams with London on this subject. Meanwhile, however, the Secretary said he wished to clear the draft statement in its present form with the President at an early moment, and I have left a copy with him for that purpose.

Wallace Murray

80. Members of the projected mission to London.
81. Isaiah Bowman, president of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
82. Supra.
83. See memorandum by the Under Secretary of State, March 4, p. 586.