867N.01/6–1946: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Harriman) to President Truman
[Received June 19—2:49 p.m.]
6109. Personal and Top Secret for the President and the Acting Secretary. Repeated to AmEmbassy Paris Top Secret and Personal for the Secretary. The Prime Minister asked me to call late this afternoon to inform me that the British Government was much concerned over the terrorist developments in Palestine. He said that the military in Palestine had so far acted with great restraint although there had been certain British soldiers killed. They were now concerned, however, over reports of plots to kidnap and hold as hostages British officers and plans to expand the terrorist activities. He expected to have a fuller report from Palestine tomorrow morning and then the Cabinet will meet to decide what action should be taken. He told me he would advise me of the decisions taken. In the meantime he asked that I inform you in the strictest confidence of his concern.
The Prime Minister said he thought it would be helpful if Mr. Grady78 and his associates could come to London as soon as possible.
I hope to be able to give you fuller information tomorrow.
- Henry F. Grady, alternate for the Secretary of State on the Cabinet Committee on Palestine and Related Problems; for statement by Mr. Byrnes, released June 11, on Mr. Grady’s appointment, see Department of State Bulletin, June 23, 1946, p. 1089. Goldthwaite H. Dorr and Herbert E. Gaston served as alternates for the Secretaries of War and Treasury, respectively.↩