867N.01/6–2146: Telegram
The Chargé in Lebanon (Kuniholm) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:40 p.m.]
296. Lebanese Foreign Office yesterday gave me:
- (1)
- Reply to our memorandum of May 20;
- (2)
- Copy of Lebanese reply to British note of same date;
- (3)
- Copy of the comment furnished British Government on recommendations of Anglo-American Commission of Inquiry;
- (4)
- Copy of note inviting British Government to begin immediate negotiations with all Arab Governments for an accord to settle Palestine problem in conformity with objectives and principles of United Nations.
Lebanese action conformed closely to procedure forecast by Arab League Secretary General Azzam (reference Legation’s telegram 290, June 1782) and argument was in harmony with reply and comment of Arab League (reference Legation’s telegram 292, June 19).
Lebanese position, expressed more emphatically to British than to US, was denial of right of United States to take any unilateral action on Palestine outside framework of United Nations, and insistence that [Page 634] the only juridically interested parties were Arab states themselves and Great Britain as mandatory power; these parties by negotiation should reach agreement on Palestine to be submitted to General Assembly of UN. Both competence and authority of Palestine Commission was rejected.
[Here follows summary of the four Lebanese documents.]
Copies of all four notes were forwarded to Department this morning by air pouch and paraphrases to Arab capitals.