867N.01/6–2546: Telegram
The Chargé in Saudi Arabia (Clark) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:45 p.m.]
196. From Childs.83 Azzam Pasha informed me upon his return from Bludan84 to Cairo 22nd, members of Arab League had decided unanimously to open negotiations with British Government as mandatory power for Palestine re determination its future status. Collective note in this sense was addressed by League to British Government [Page 636] on June 15 and Arab states, members of United Nations, had addressed individual notes on same subject.
Action was taken by those states as ones “directly concerned” under article 79 of UN Charter. If no agreement could be reached with British Government before September meeting of Assembly for joint Anglo-Arab submittal of agreed-upon project to that body the Arab states would at once submit proposals separately. Those states were prepared to accept British trusteeship for Palestine over period of 10 years if assurance obtainable of Palestine independence at end of period. Azzam expected and hoped reference of Palestine problem to United Nations to be welcomed by both American and British Governments as it would place problem where it belonged, not as exclusive concern of two powers but of all members of United Nations. Arab states fully prepared to accept their share burden helping solve humanitarian question displaced Jews but they see no reason why Palestine, an Arab country, should be called on to bear it in its entirety.
Above submitted in view its importance, notwithstanding it may have been received from other sources.
Sent Department as 196, repeated Beirut, Baghdad, Cairo, Jerusalem, Damascus, London. [Childs.]
- J. Rives Childs, the Appointed Minister to Saudi Arabia.↩
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An extraordinary meeting of the Arab League Council convened at Bludan, Syria, from June 8 to 12, 1946. The question of Palestine was the chief matter discussed. Of the decisions made public, the following were the most significant: The formation of a Palestine Committee of the Arab League and of a supreme Arab Committee in Palestine; a call for the demobilization and disarmament of the Zionists in Palestine; and the formation of a special fund for Palestine to which all Arab Governments would contribute (despatch 448, June 19, 1946, from Damascus, filed under 890B.00/6–1946).
Secret decisions were also made at Bludan. The latter provided that if the American and British Governments accepted the recommendations of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry and attempted to put them into execution, the Arab countries would defend themselves by not giving them any new concessions; by not supporting their special interests in any educational institution; by a moral boycott; by considering cancellation of any concession in the Arab world; and by complaining to the United Nations and to the Security Council of the United Nations. The secret decisions were transmitted from Beirut in despatch No. 188, October 16, 1947, by Lowell C. Pinkerton, who at that time was Minister to Lebanon. He noted that he “had no reason to doubt that the veil of secrecy has been removed from the Bludan Secret Decisions.” (890B.00/10–1647)
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