867N.01/11–945
The British Ambassador (Halifax) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Secretary of State: Mr. Bevin asks me to tell you, in reply to your memorandum of November 7th about Palestine, that His Majesty’s Government are ready to accept the proposal of the President. They will proceed to act upon it as formal commitment.
His Majesty’s Government have only made one addition to the terms of reference you now propose, and that is to re-insert the words “and to consult” in the third term of reference. You will remember that, when you discussed the question with Mr. Balfour on October 20th, you thought that these words were an improvement, and I assume you will have no objection to them.
[Page 816]I enclose the terms of reference25 as now agreed upon between the two Governments with the addition referred to above.
Mr. Bevin hopes to make a statement in the House of Commons on November 12th or at the latest, November 13th. He attaches great importance to the observance of secrecy till his announcement is made.
Believe me [etc.]
- Not printed. These were substantially the same as those proposed in the Secretary of State’s memorandum to the British Ambassador, October 24, p. 785: however, the final text of the terms of reference as communicated to Lord Halifax by Secretary Byrnes in his note of December 10. p. 839, reveals certain changes in paragraphs 3 and 4. both substantive and technical.↩