867N.01/11–2745: Telegram
The Chargé in Egypt ( Lyon ) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 27—5:34 p.m.]
2192. From Eddy. Sheikh Yusuf Yassin52 called on me at the American Legation Cairo today and in the course of conversation, which lasted an hour and a quarter, he reviewed current discussions of Palestine by members of the Arab League Council. In general, he confirmed statements by Azam Bey53 given in Cairo’s telegram 2188 November 26, 8 p.m.54 to the effect that moderate counsels were prevailing upon the extremists to keep negotiations open until the completion of Joint Commission for Palestine is known. Two special points emerged from this conversation.
- 1.
- Sheikh Yusuf expressed the hope that the American Secretary [Section?] of the Commission might include someone who knows conditions in and around Palestine from recent first hand observation, such as Senator Pepper or Congressman Mundt or Congressman Bolton.55
- 2.
- Sheikh Yusuf stated that the Arab League would act independently to check Zionism without regard to ultimate solutions proposed in London or Washington. Measures which he stated would be announced soon include (1) boycott in all Arab countries of merchandise from Zionists in Palestine; (2) prohibition in each Arab country of any personal aid to Zionism, whether this aid be financial or political; individuals or firms convicted of contributing to Zionism to be treated as enemies of the local govt; (3) prohibition upon travel of Zionists from one Arab country to another. [Eddy.]
- Saudi Arabian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩
- Abdur Rahman Azzam, Secretary General of the Arab League.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Claude Pepper, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Karl E. Mundt and Mrs. Frances P. Bolton of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; all had been in the Near East in recent months on Congressional trips.↩