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

867N.01/2–1347: Telegram

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

secret
priority

London, February 13, 1947—7 p. m.

1005. Following obtained today from Beeley and Sir Douglas Harris:

1. British showed representatives Jewish Agency Delegation February 11 British map “insofar as it has been prepared”. Beeley said map is still in draft stage. (Embassy’s 926, February 11).

2. Representatives Jewish Agency Delegation did not produce map but by moving fingers over British map showed what they had in mind. According Beeley and Harris it was clear that even if both sides should accept partition in principle there exists no hope of reaching agreement re frontiers. Gap between Jewish Agency thinking and any partition proposal which British have even contemplated is far too great to be bridged.

3. Beeley apologized for not being able to give Embassy fuller account of February 11 meeting. He said he was bound by agreement made with representatives Jewish Agency Delegation present that both sides would keep developments at meeting strictly confidential. Beeley said, however, that little of significance took place and that secrecy did not mark anything of importance.

4. Jewish Agency Delegation has not yet submitted to British Delegation its objections in writing to British proposals (Embassy’s 982, February 12¹) but Beeley understood that Jewish Agency is drafting them.

5. Having agreed February 10 that another meeting would be held, Jewish Agency Delegation and British Delegation meet today. Beeley could not forecast what would be said.

6. British Delegation and Arab Delegation met February 12. Bevin opened meeting by saying it was clear that agreement was not going to be reached on basis British proposals. He said that Arab objections² and Jewish Agency objections to proposals have so much in common that it seemed to him it might be best for British to stand aside and let Jewish Agency Delegation and Arab Delegation work out their own solution. Bevin said he would undertake to put into effect any agreement which Arabs and Jews would work out directly between themselves.

7. In absence Faris el-Khoury, Jamal Husseini for Arab Delegation made “fighting speech”. He said that so far Arab Governments have been able to restrain their populations but he did not think this was possible for much longer. In his view Middle Eastern peace was gravely threatened by Palestine situation and by strain which British role in Palestine has placed on Anglo-Arab friendship.

8. Lebanese delegate, Nadim Dimechkie, then made speech analyzing and attempting to demolish Jewish case which he said rested upon following four points:

(a) Jewish historical case: Arabs have been in Palestine so long that this can hardly be taken seriously;

(b) Distress of Jews in Europe: Arabs have not caused this and do not see why they alone should be called upon to remedy this distress;

(c) Jewish religious interests: Jews did not have an exclusive religious interest and there was no reason why such interest should have political consequences;

(d) Jews are capable of developing Palestine economically better than present inhabitants: This argument was precisely that used by Italians in Ethiopia.

10. Dimechkie said that Arabs are being asked to compromise. Arabs feel that Balfour Declaration was illegitimate and every Jewish immigrant into Palestine was for them a compromise. Arabs have compromised enough by recognizing present Jewish population Palestine and are not prepared to go further.

11. Question then arose as to what Arab Delegation would like British to do in Palestine. Palestine Arabs recommended strongly that British should pack up and get out leaving Palestine Arabs to handle resulting situation. British asked whether Palestine Arabs did not realize strength of Jews and prospect of bloodshed in such an event. Palestine Arabs said they were confident of handling situation and of Arab League support if that should be necessary.

12. Bevin said that he would make full report re proceedings Palestine Conference to Cabinet at its February 14 meeting. He asked Arab Delegation to remain in London until after this meeting. Re this request Beeley said Bevin made it clear that he might or might not have something to say after Cabinet meeting.

13. Creech Jones saw representatives Agudas Israel³ February 10 and will see representatives Anglo-Jewish Association February 14. Beeley knew of no official reaction from either organization to proposals but had noted press reports that both are inclined to view British proposals with some favor.

14. Questioned re “Operation Grand National” as British press today describes transfer directly to Palestine of 300 skilled Jewish artisans from British zone Germany, Harris and Beeley said that this movement had been afoot for some time and that 600 Palestine visas had been put at disposal of displaced persons section, British Control Commission. The 300 mentioned in reports are first half such visas which they understood were being granted to Jewish DP’s on a point system.

Gallman

1. Not printed.
2. In telegram 931, February 11, from London, Chargé Gallman reported information from Mr. Beeley that the British had received a statement from the Arab Delegation rejecting the British proposals but not closing the door on future negotiations (867N.01/2–1147). The text of the statement, dated February 10, was transmitted in despatch 4284, March 14, from London (867N.01/3–1447).
3. The “Association of Israel”, the organization of ultra-orthodox Jews in Palestine and abroad. The first part of the name is written also as “Agudat” and “Agudath”.