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

867N.01/6–1847: Airgram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Iraq

confidential

Washington, July 24, 1947.

A–86. Suggest following reply to Iraqi note on Palestine quoted in Embtel 258 June 18:¹

“The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments to the Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iraq and has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Royal Ministry’s note of June 14, 1947, with regard to the problem of Palestine.

In the note under acknowledgment, information is given of a decision unanimously taken by the Council of the League of Arab States at its meeting in Cairo on March 24, 1947, ‘holding the Government of the United States of America and the British Government jointly and severally responsible for the present critical situation in Palestine and for the grave dangers that threaten security and peace in this part of the world as a result of such a situation.’

It is further stated that the Iraqi Government is at a loss to understand how the Government of the United States could justify ‘her encouragement of Jewish immigration into Palestine by various means, on the plea of strengthening the Jewish national home established in that country.’

After a discussion of various aspects of the Palestine question, the Government of Iraq expresses the following demands:

I. That the Government of the United States should immediately stop any action of a nature to lead to the encouragement or continuation of Jewish immigration into Palestine no matter what form such immigration may assume.

II. That the Government of the United States should support before the United Nations organization in its next meeting in September 1947 the demand of the Arab States for the termination of the Palestine mandate and the proclamation of the independence of the country as a sovereign Arab state.

In concluding, the Iraqi Government states that unless the Government of the United States takes immediate steps for the realization of these two demands, it would be held responsible for the present critical situation in Palestine and for whatever developments that situation might involve, within or outside Palestine. The Government of Iraq states further that in the face of these grave dangers which actually threaten security and peace in the Near East, it cannot but resort to every possible measure, no matter of what nature, to safeguard peace and put an end once and for all to such a grave situation.

In reply, the Embassy is instructed to state that in the view of the Government of the United States it would be both inappropriate and inadvisable to enter at this time upon a formal discussion with the Government of Iraq of the merits of the problem of Palestine. The United States Government believes that the Special Committee on Palestine appointed by the recent special session of the General Assembly of the United Nations is the appropriate forum for the hearing and examination of the points of view of the individuals and organizations which desire to make known their respective attitudes on this question-In that connection it is understood that the Committee has issued an invitation to the Arab States, including Iraq, and to the Arab Higher Committee, to present testimony.

As regards the first demand of the Iraqi Government, the United States Government considers that for the time being, until immigration policy with respect to Palestine is decided upon following consideration by the United Nations of all aspects of the future of Palestine, immigration into Palestine should continue to be regulated by the Mandatory Power, which now governs Palestine. The United States Government has taken no action and contemplates no action encouraging illegal immigration into Palestine. In fact, the President of the United States, on June 5 urged ‘every citizen and resident of the United States, in the interests of this country, of world peace, and of humanity, meticulously to refrain, while the United Nations is considering the problem of Palestine, from engaging in, or facilitating, any activities which tend further to inflame the passions of the inhabitants of Palestine, to undermine law and order in Palestine, or to promote violence in that country.’

With regard to the second demand of the Iraqi Government, the United States Government intends at the proper time, after giving careful consideration to the report of the Special Committee on Palestine, to make its attitude known respecting the future of Palestine. The United States Government believes that all of the Governments represented in the United Nations will similarly desire to make known their respective attitudes at the September meeting of the General Assembly. The United States, for its part, does not intend to make any demands or exert any kind of pressure or influence on the other Governments represented in the General Assembly with regard to their respective attitudes; conversely, the United States Government will not be influenced by any kind of pressure brought to bear upon it, but will exert its best efforts to adopt a fair and constructive attitude taking all relevant factors into account.

In reference to the conclusion of the note under reply, the Government of the United States is aware of the concern with which the Government of Iraq views the Palestine situation. However, the United States Government is in no way responsible for that situation which has arisen from circumstances entirely beyond its control, and cannot accept any responsibility therefor.

The United States Government looks forward to continued work and association with the Government of Iraq, as with all of the member States of the Arab League, in efforts to resolve the Palestine problem in accordance with the principles and objectives of the United Nations, and sincerely trusts that its anticipation in this regard is shared by the Government of Iraq.”²

Marshall

1. Not printed.
2. In telegram 346, August 18, the Embassy in Baghdad reported a statement made by Iraqi Prime Minister Salih Jabur to the British Chargé that the American reply to Iraq’s note on Palestine “was unsatisfactory and a deliberate evasion of American responsibility for chaotic Palestinian situation.” The Prime Minister was said to have “warned that in event of unfavorable United Nations decision, Iraq would not only sever diplomatic and economic relations with United States but would also prevent any social contact between Americans and Iraqi.” (867N.01/8–1847)