740.00119 Council/8–2146: Telegram
The Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Harriman) to the Acting Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received August 21—10:38 a.m.]
4141. Delsec 835. Personal for the Acting Secretary from Harriman. I called on Bevin yesterday evening to learn the recent developments in the Palestine situation.
[Page 689]He said that the President’s statement on resettlement of displaced persons would be of real help in dealing with the Arabs at the consultations.
His immediate difficulty is with the Jewish Agency. As reported in the press he has seen several times in Paris representatives of the Jewish Agency, including Dr. Goldmann and Rabbi Wise. They have demanded that their proposal be accepted by the British Government as the basis for discussions at the proposed consultations. Bevin replied that the British Government intended to submit its proposal but would be glad to consider any amendments or any plan proposed by either the Jews or the Arabs, that if the Jewish Agency accepted the invitation to the consultations the British Govt would work earnestly and patiently to find an acceptable solution. Bevin considers that in his conversations with the Agency Representatives he has met and gone beyond our suggestions contained in Secdel 65754 and that the British Govt cannot go any further prior to the consultations. He must give consideration to the reaction of the Arab States, all of whom have already accepted invitation to consultations.
On Sunday he had word from the Jews that they declined to participate except on their terms.
He feels that the Jewish Agency is overplaying its hand and still hopes that they will be more reasonable but in any event that there is no course open to the British Government but to stand on its present position.
In reply to my question, Bevin told me he had confidence that the British Military now have control of the terrorists in Palestine.
Repeated to London as 628.