867N.01/11–1645: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 17—5:30 a.m.]
12036. Reference Embassy’s telegram 12001.39 In accordance with assurances given by Secretary of State for Colonies40 yesterday Under Secretary Jones today gave details of Tel-Aviv rioting. In deploring these events Creech Jones said Foreign Secretary had made it clear last Tuesday that there could be no question of allowing issue to be forced by violent conflict and those responsible for maintaining law and order in Palestine might be assured that they would have full support of Government in carrying out their duty. He said no incident of major significance had occurred outside Tel-Aviv.
Foreign Office tells us that report received from Jerusalem today states that there is no evidence that Tel-Aviv riots were inspired or controlled by any Jewish organization but that they appear to have been primarily acts of hooliganism. Foreign Office added that this should not be construed as indicating that organized violence might not be expected but that for the moment it seemed that Jewish organizations were still in process of taking stock of situation.
Sent Department as 12036 repeated Jerusalem as 22.