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

501.BB Palestine/11–1947: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

secret

Washington, November 19, 1947—7 p. m.

4906. Relative Brit statements before UNGA re Palestine, please inquire FonOff informally for clarification following points:

1. Brit reserve right to lay down mandate and end their civil administration whenever evident no settlement acceptable Jews and Arabs has been reached by GA. However, if UNSCOP majority plan fails this GA time may be lacking for approval any other solution this session. In this event, presumably GA will provide for continuing work on Palestine by some subsidiary body which might result in adoption by special GA session early 1948 settlement acceptable to Jews and Arabs. Question: Do British statements mean that Brit will withdraw in absence of agreed Jewish-Arab settlement at present GA session or will they withhold withdrawal until GA has reached conclusion re settlement at special session? We appreciate this may be regarded as hypothetical question. However present GA session may end within few days.

2. If partition fails of adoption by two-thirds GA vote, does Brit information indicate that Zionists will move forthwith to establish Jewish state, possibly by force? In such eventuality, what attitude will Brit take toward such a move?¹

Sent London as 4906; rptd USUN as 568; rptd to Jerusalem as 482.

Lovett

1. According to telegram 6138, November 21, 2 p. m., from London, Ambassador Douglas discussed the contents of telegram 4906 with Sir Orme Sargent on November 19. Regarding paragraph 1, the Ambassador reported that “in the absence of agreed Jewish-Arab settlement at present session GA, they see no reason to modify their present plans to complete the evacuation by August 1, 1948. He indicates that if present session GA fails to reach agreement, probably UNSCOP will continue its work with a view to submitting further recommendations to GA at later date.” The Ambassador also reported that the Foreign Office had no reliable information regarding the query in paragraph 2. (501.BB Palestine/11–2147)