867N.01/6–1046: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Harriman)68
us urgent
4600. For Amb Harriman. On May 27 we received through Brit Emb a message from PriMin Attlee to President listing various problems raised as result of report of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry which Attlee suggested should be the subject of discussions between the experts of two Govts. Attlee also suggested that these discussions might conveniently be initiated about June 13. In our telegram to you, 4482 of June 5,69 President asked you to inform PriMin that we doubted that our plans would be sufficiently advanced to enable us to begin discussions on whole report by June 13 but that we were planning to send to London by that date one or more experts to discuss the urgent physical problems arising out of transfer of 100,000 Jews.
President is setting up a Cabinet Committee on Palestine and Related Problems70 under chairmanship of SecState composed of Secretaries of State, War and Treasury. The members of this [Page 625] Committee are to appoint alternates who will organize a group to assist in early consideration of recommendations of Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry and of views which may be submitted as a result of the consultations thereon and in the determination of the steps to be taken by this Govt in regard to Palestine and related problems.
In view of the urgency of the problems of the displaced Jews in Europe it has been decided that without waiting for organization of this group to be completed conversations should begin at once in London with purpose of examining physical problems which would be involved in transfer to Palestine of 100,000 Jews. These discussions with Brit are to be of a purely exploratory nature as it is not possible for two Govts to reach any definite decisions in this matter until after June 20, the date by which the comments of Arabs and Jews with regard to the report as a whole should be received.
It would be appreciated if you would undertake these discussions with the assistance of a group of experts who are planning to depart by air from Washington for London on June 12. They will bring with them written instructions regarding their mission. No publicity is being given to purpose of this mission although departure of group will undoubtedly become known. Group will comprise Evan Wilson, Assistant Chief of NE, L. W. Cramer, Office of Assistant Secretary Hilldring, and probably three army officers who are being designated by War Dept. War Dept has advised ComGenUSFET and ComGenUSFA of Mission and has suggested their holding suitable officers available for participation in London discussions. If you agree this would be desirable please immediately inform the Commands direct.
It is intended that members of preliminary group will remain in London only so long as they are needed to assist Emb in carrying on discussions pending arrival in London of representatives of President’s Cabinet Committee. We would like in particular for Wilson to return to Washington to assist in connection with general work of Cabinet Committee71 just as soon as you feel he can be spared.
Please immediately inform FonOff of foregoing and provide all appropriate assistance to preliminary group such as secretarial help, office space, etc. Dept cannot stress too highly importance of this mission and feel certain Emb will cooperate to fullest extent possible.
[In an address to the Labor Party Conference at Bournemouth on June 12, 1946, British Foreign Secretary Bevin stated that he would have to place another division of British troops in Palestine if 100,000 Jews were placed there tomorrow and that he was not prepared to do so. Moreover, he stated, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be unable to carry the tremendous financial burden involved.]
- The drafting of this telegram was completed on June 10. presumably before the Department knew of Mr. Attlee’s message, supra. At 5:10 p.m., June 10, by which time Mr. Henderson had been apprised of the message, he sent a memorandum to the Secretary of State which said in part: “We feel that regardless of this message from Attlee, the experts whom we have assembled should go on to London as planned and endeavor to assist the Embassy in carrying on at least preliminary talks with the British officials. If they don’t go we may be bogged down for several weeks and a delay of this kind would be unfortunate at this time.” (867N.01/6–1046)↩
- See footnote 57, p. 617.↩
- This was done under Executive Order 9735, June 11; for text of order and statement made the same day by President Truman, see Department of State Bulletin, June 23, 1946, p. 1089. Mr. Henderson had sent to Mr. Acheson on May 23 a draft outline of the composition and functions of what was then described as an “Inter-Departmental Commission on Palestine” (867.N.01/5–2346).↩
- In a memorandum of June 18, 1946, to Mr. Acheson, Mr. Henderson stated: “More generally speaking, we believe that the Department ought to yield place to the Cabinet Committee in regard to the Palestine question and not to take any action regarding it except at the Committee’s direction or with its concurrence.” Mr. Acheson noted his agreement in a marginal notation. (867N.00/6–1846)↩