867N.01/5–346: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt (Tuck) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 4—2:35 a.m.]
770. Reaction here to Anglo-American Committee report bitterly critical. Individuals and Arab organizations have voiced their opposition [Page 593] while newspapers almost without exception attack report as disastrous and in complete variance with justice for Arab rights. Blame for recommendation generally assigned to America, an attitude encouraged by widely-printed remarks of President and other Americans welcoming recommendations.
Azzam Pasha, Secretary General of Arab League, called on me to present protests of Arab League against report and to voice belief that American position in Arab world would inevitably deteriorate if the recommendations became policy. He said that he was sorry to come on such a mission. Arabs had long held America and Americans in high regard but if this report were to become policy an entirely different attitude would prevail. When asked why he put blame for report on America, he replied that Britain had long been recognized as enemy of Arabs. America by report had shown that it was now an enemy.
Report in his opinion could only add fuel to the flames. Zionists had achieved in report all they could desire at this time. They would now be encouraged to renew their terrorist activities. Arabs on other hand had now nothing but despair. Those who had kept quiet in expectation of implementation of White Paper now had every reason to renew fight dropped in 1939. He declared report in its support of Zionism and repudiation of Arab claims could have been written in any Zionist office in America. When it was pointed out that the report repudiated Jewish state, he retorted only three things mattered: Immigration, land and future government. The report gave Zionists two things which could lead only to Jewish state: Immigration and right to purchase unlimited land while denial of right to control immigration and land transfer was repudiation of all of Arab rights.
He said that from moment report had appeared, he had been besieged by representatives of every Arab state. He had talked by telephone with most Arab capitals and could confidently say that Arabs were united in their complete opposition to the policy of report. He could not prophesy what steps League might take although he was under tremendous pressure to authorize drastic and serious action. He was considering calling extraordinary session of League to recommend best course of action. He asked that his representations be transmitted to my Government. Azzam called on British Ambassador the following day and made similar representations.
Only on one or two occasions during his call did Azzam Pasha depart from his usual moderate tone but there was no doubt of his sincerity nor the seriousness with which he regarded report as destructive of Arab rights and of American position in the Arab world. Similar views have been given to press.
[Page 594]Other interested parties have communicated their views to Legation. Protest signed by Arab Union, Moslem Brotherhood, Moslem Youths, Arab Palestine Society received yesterday. One observer stated that many Egyptians regarded report as particularly disastrous. Hitherto, American statements on Zionism had been explained away as having been made with an eye to elections. This report by allegedly impartial commission together with the President’s remark welcoming recommendations especially those concerning further immigration and establishment of Jewish national home would now be regarded by Arabs as revealing true American attitude towards Palestine because of which America could count only on Arab hostility. This observer held that Russia and Zionists only would benefit from report.
[Here follows press and other comment.]
Paraphrase by pouch to London and Arab capitals.