867N.01/11–1445

The British Ambassador ( Halifax ) to the Secretary of State

My Dear Secretary of State: Knowing how busy you are, I am sending you by hand, rather than asking you to set aside a time for another talk, a message I have just received from Ernie Bevin about Palestine. I am, of course, at your disposal at any time to talk it over.

Believe me [etc.]

Halifax
[Enclosure]

Copy of Message From Mr. Bevin Dated November 14th, 1945

The statement on Palestine was well received in the House and by the press here. It is now very urgent to select and announce the Joint Committee.

I suggest that the Committee should consist of about seven persons on either side so as to allow it to divide up into sub-committees and [Page 823] deal with the work simultaneously and expeditiously. I am selecting a team of a general character containing members of both Houses of Parliament and experts from outside politics. I had considered appointing one or more women members but am advised this might give rise to undersirable reactions from Moslem opinion. I will let you know the exact composition of the British team as soon as possible, but meanwhile please pass to Mr. Byrnes again my thought, which I have no doubt he will share, how important it is that those whom we select should be impartial people who have not been connected publicly or officially with either the Jewish or the Arab cause.