501.BB Palestine/9–247: Telegram
The Consul General at Jerusalem (Macatee) to the Secretary of State
secret
Jerusalem, September
2, 1947—7 p. m.
357. Following reactions to summary of UNSCOP report have been noted locally:
- 1.
- British expressions range from cautious desire examine full report to outright denunciation. View high ranking official recently returned from England remarked no uncertainty in UNSCOP’s determination to end mandate and added great many uninformed persons in England desire British out of Palestine. Other Secretariat personnel express skepticism of possibility running Palestine with “four governments” (meaning governments of Arab State, Jewish State, Jerusalem Free Zone, and “Government for Economic Affairs”).
- 2.
- Jewish Agency officials seem very satisfied. At lunch today Myerson and others of Agency’s Political Department told officer of ConsGen it was very good report and that “corridors” were very ingenious. [Page 1144] Same officials said report bad two serious drawbacks—the inclusion of Jerusalem in the Free Zone and failure to include western Galilee in Jewish State. In confidential aside the Zionist correspondent of large American newspaper remarked “to say Jews pleased with report is understatement, they are elated”. Myerson said she had western Galilee in mind when she told press yesterday that “in better division of the country” Jews would not say Jaffa must be in Jewish State.
- 3.
- Arab reaction, aside from fiery statements from Emil Ghouri as spokesman for the Higher Committee, has thus far been relatively moderate probably due to fact that leaders are outside the country.
Department please repeat London. Copies by pouch to Arab capitals.
Macatee