867N.01/6–1947
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State1
| Participants: | The Secretary. |
| Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, Jewish Agency and Zionist Organization of America. | |
| Mr. Loy W. Henderson, Director, NEA. |
Dr. Silver called upon me this afternoon in order to present the views of the various organizations which he represents respecting our policy with regard to Palestine. The following represents a summary of Dr. Silver’s remarks:
- 1.
- The investigating Committee of the United Nations is now in Palestine for the purpose of obtaining facts to be used in the preparation of a report to the United Nations regarding the problem of Palestine and the solution of that problem. It is not believed that this Committee will unearth any new facts. The decisions which it makes are certain to be of a political, rather than of a juridical or fact-finding nature. There is a danger that unless the Committee is acquainted with the American Government’s views regarding what the solution of the Palestine problem should be, it will be working in a vacuum and its report will be of such a character that no solution of the problem will be found next fall and there will be again considerable delay before the problem can be approached realistically.
- 2.
- The American Government has two alternatives before it. One is to fail to make its views clear before the minds of the members of the Committee are made up, with consequent confusion in the General Assembly in September. The other is to state its views at a sufficiently early date to permit the Committee to give careful consideration to them before it draws up its report. The Jewish Agency and affiliated organizations hope that the United States Government will present its views in the near future and that before doing so, it will consult privately with Zionist leaders so that the latter will have an opportunity [Page 1106] to correct any misunderstandings or misapprehensions under which the United States may be laboring and to make suggestions which will enable the United States Government and American Zionists to find common ground.
- 3.
- The American Zionists are completely in the dark as to what the present policy of the United States is with regard to Palestine. They would like to exchange views privately at once with the American Government on this subject. They are anxious that when the problem comes up before the General Assembly in the fall, they will not find themselves compelled to oppose the policies of their own Government.
- 4.
- The Zionists have the impression that in the past the Government of the United States has looked with favor upon partition. They are not sure whether the American Government still has these views. In any event, he feels that he should emphasize that partition could mean many things. A partition plan could be developed which would have the support of 95 percent of the Jews; one could also be suggested which would be unequivocably opposed by 95 percent of the Jews.
- 5.
- In about two weeks, there will be a national meeting of Zionist leaders in New York. Dr. Silver will preside. He hopes that at that time he will be in a position to bolster the morale of the Jews both in this country and abroad by making some statement with regard to the attitude of the American Government which would be encouraging. Specifically, he would like to know whether the Department of State is willing to exchange views with the Jewish Agency and if so, at what time.
I informed Dr. Silver that the question of Palestine is very much in our minds. We are devoting much time and study to it. We hope to find a definitive solution. The problem is extremely complicated. To the difficult international factors connected with it, there have been added factors of internal politics. We are anxious that a fair and equitable solution be found. There is nothing further which we can say at this time.
I added that I would give consideration to the views expressed by Dr. Silver, including his suggestion that, if possible, he would be placed in a position to make some kind of a statement at the Zionist meeting scheduled to take place in New York in two weeks.
I also told Dr. Silver that if the Zionists would like to convey to the Department any of their views which they have not already made known to it regarding what the solution of the Palestine problem should be, they might present them to Mr. Henderson either in writing or orally. Dr. Silver replied that they would be glad to do so provided the Department on its part would tell the Zionists what the views of the United States Government were. I told Dr. Silver that we were not prepared at this time to make any statement with regard to what our views are or might be.
Dr. Silver asked whether there was a possibility that some time during the summer we would be in a position to talk frankly with the [Page 1107] Zionist leaders. I replied that I hoped we would be able to do so. He asked if I could assure him that such a talk would precede any announcement which the Government might make regarding its Palestine policy. I replied that I hoped that it might be found possible to discuss any policy which we might contempate adopting relating to the future of Palestine before announcing it.
Before his departure, Dr. Silver handed me the attached memorandum2 setting forth the views of the organizations which he represents as to the course of action which the United States Government might take.