Office of the Historian

867N.01/8–1246: Telegram

President Truman to the British Prime Minister (Attlee)42

top secret
us urgent
Washington, August 12, 1946—6 p.m.

I appreciate your courtesy in furnishing me information contained urtel Aug. 9.

After further study of recommendations of American and Brit groups and after detailed discussion in which members my cabinet and other advisers participated, I have reluctantly come to conclusion that I can not give formal support to plan in its present form as a joint Anglo-American plan.

The opposition in this country to the plan has become so intense that it is now clear it would be impossible to rally in favor of it sufficient public opinion enable this Govt to give it effective support.

In view critical situation Palestine and of desperate plight of homeless Jews in Europe I believe search for a solution to this difficult problem should continue. I have therefore instructed our Embassy London discuss with you or with appropriate members of Brit Govt certain suggestions which have been made to us and which, I understand, are also being made to you.43

Should it be possible to broaden coming conference sufficiently to consider these suggestions, it is my earnest hope conference may make possible decision by your Govt upon a course for which we can obtain necessary support in this country and in the Congress so we can give effective financial help and moral support.

  1. Sent to London as Department’s telegram 5974, with the instruction: “Please transmit following message from President to Attlee.” The Department repeated the telegram to Paris for Secretary Byrnes and Ambassador Harriman “for presentation to Attlee if he is in Paris.”↩
  2. See telegram 5973, supra.↩