Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Near East and Africa, Volume V

867N.01/1–3047: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Gallman) to the Secretary of State

secret
us urgent

London, January 30, 1947—4 p. m.

658. Beeley, Foreign Office, supplies (Embtel 577, January 28) following information this morning:

1. Following Jewish Agency representatives met yesterday afternoon for 2½ hours at Colonial Office:

Ben-Gurion, Shertok, Neumann, Brodetsky, Locker, Goldmann, Horowitz, Eban and Linton. British were represented by Creech Jones, who presided, Bevin and Sir Norman Brook. Colonial and Foreign Office advisers were also present.

2. Creech Jones welcomed JA Delegation [and inquired?] what they meant by partition. JA Delegation refused to set forth its views re partition saying that if it put forward a partition plan it would henceforth be committed to it. Bevin said that these talks were very exploratory and he could assure JA Delegation that it would not be committed by talking about partition. British referred to October proposals of Arab Delegation and asked JA Delegation whether it desired to file its proposals. Ben-Gurion said that JA did not wish to file proposals but that it would give British in writing its objections to Morrison plan. Ben-Gurion inquired why British Government could not return to pre-1939 régime¹ and carry out the mandate. To this Creech Jones replied “with vehemence” that British Government is no longer prepared to maintain an administration in Palestine which has no roots in people of Palestine. To do so would be contrary to democratic principles in which British Government believed and British did not think that world opinion would tolerate in Palestine an autocratic alien government. Consequently JA Delegation must start its thinking from the idea that British Government is “determined to set up self-governing institutions in Palestine with independence as its ultimate aim.”

Ben-Gurion said somewhat cryptically, “if you are not prepared to go back to mandate there is only one solution.” Later he reverted to same point saying “if British rule out mandate absolutely not many alternatives are open to us.”

3. Shertok raised question of interim position UN Palestine in event British Government should take a decision which would be referred next September to UN. He asked British Delegation to consider and advise JA Delegation how it proposed to handle immigration and land transfer regulations in interim. British Delegation promised to consider these practical questions.

4. Ben-Gurion said JA Delegation interpreted Basle resolution as leaving JA free to consider partition if it is proposed to JA Delegation.

5. It was agreed that JA Delegation and British Delegation would meet again “shortly” Colonial Office to fix date and time.

6. Beeley, who was present, received personal impression that JA Delegation was surprised to find that British Delegation was not committed to partition. He thought he noted also an undercurrent of feeling between Ben-Gurion and Neumann, who, apparently did not share former’s thinking re desirability of British returning to Palestine pre-1939 régime.

7. Palestine Conference will meet again today at 3 p. m.; heads of Arab Delegation are lunching with Prime Minister beforehand. British will “make a more definite statement” re British position but Beeley indicated that this would not go very far.

8. Asked how long British thought they could hold Arab Delegation in London while they conducted informal talks with JA, Beeley said he had no idea but that Arabs were naturally a patient people and he understood from private sources that they are anxious that conference should not end in failure although they are reported to have decided to walk out in certain contingencies (e.g. partition proposal). Beeley doubted whether JA Delegation will be willing to omit stages from its negotiations.

9. Beeley said there was nothing new with regard to the principles stated by Creech Jones (paragraph 2 above); they had been British operating basis for some time.

10. Further report re yesterday meeting will be obtained from Shertok and Neumann who are calling this afternoon at Embassy.

Gallman

1. This refers, presumably, to the régime in Palestine prior to the White Paper of May 1939; for text, see British Cmd. 6019, Palestine: Statement of Policy.