867N.01/10–2144: Telegram
The Consul General at Jerusalem (Pinkerton) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:44 p.m.]
156. Retel 153, October 19, 4 p.m. Members of Culbertson Mission visited Haifa October 19 where meeting with Arab Chamber of Commerce was scheduled but this meeting was cancelled. Chamber addressed letter to this Consulate which was received 1 day after time of meeting saying “We cannot but accept the one and only interpretation of such political influence as Jewish complete mastery of the [Page 617] economic, social and political life of America and, therefore, as no useful purpose would be served by the meeting of the Arab Chamber of Commerce of Haifa with the American delegation the Chamber has decided not to meet the delegation.”
Arab press has been increasingly drastic in its criticism but formal protests have not been made to this Consulate by Arab organizations or individuals other than letters from Jerusalem and Haifa Chamber of Commerce.