867N.01/11–2445

The Consul at Jerusalem ( Hooper ) to the Secretary of State

No. 2295

Sir: With reference to the Department’s telegram no. 334 [234] of November 19, 1945, I have the honor to inform the Department that President Truman’s message was delivered to the Emir Abdullah in Amman by an officer of this Consulate General on November 21. The Emir expressed gratification for the message and requested that his thanks be conveyed to the President.

During the course of the audience the Emir stated that he had felt obliged, following the announcement regarding the admission into Palestine of 100,000 Jews from Europe, to inform the President of his views on the subject and of the reaction of the Arab world to such a step. He expressed the belief that his message to the President had been the direct cause for the subsequent statement on American policy toward the Palestine question made by the Secretary of State. The Emir was assured that the President and the United States Government valued and appreciated his views which were given full consideration.

The officer delivering the message was accompanied to the audience, which lasted the better part of an hour, by the Assistant British Resident, Mr. J. H. Iliffe, and a high officer of the Arab Legion, Colonel R. Broadhurst. The meeting took place in a very friendly atmosphere and it is believed that the Emir was greatly pleased by the gesture of the President’s message.

It should be added that in accordance with established procedure advance copies of the official note to the Emir were given to the Acting Chief Secretary of the Palestine Government45 and to the British Resident in Amman.46

Respectfully yours,

Malcolm P. Hooper
  1. Presumably J. V. W. Shaw, the Chief Secretary.
  2. Alec S. Kirkbride.