740.0011 Stettinius Mission/142
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Foy D. Kohler of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs
| British | American | |
| Participants: | Sir Maurice Peterson, K.C.M.G. | Mr. Wallace Murray |
| Mr. C.W. Baxter, C.M.G., M.C. | Mr. Foy D. Kohler | |
| Hon. E. M. A. Hankey | Mr. Robert Coe |
At today’s meeting Sir Maurice reported that the draft statement on Palestine had now been discussed with the Colonial Office and other interested authorities. He said that the British had welcomed this opportunity of studying the matter again and would retain the draft on a basis for future discussions with the State Department; but that after thorough consideration they believed that it would be inadvisable to issue it at present. They felt that issuance now might well irritate rather than calm the Zionists in the United States and this was their principal worry. They do not expect any trouble, either from the Arabs or from the Jews in Palestine, which they will be unable to handle, despite the current activities of the Jewish extremists. If only the United States Zionists can be kept quiet the situation will remain under firm control.
[Page 604]Mr. Murray expressed appreciation of this exposition of the British position and agreed that if the British consider that there is no present threat of a blow-up in Palestine which would impede the war effort we should let well enough alone. He recalled in this connection that the British military at Quebec had been very concerned about the situation and very anxious to secure the issuance of a joint statement. As regards the question of Zionist agitation in the United States he felt that the pressure had been eased for the moment by the stand our own military had taken against the resolutions in Congress, but that the agitation might spring up again at any time. Sir Maurice said that he hoped not, but that it would be very useful to have the Department’s draft for consideration if there should be a recrudescence of American Zionist agitation.