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

501.BB Palestine/12–647: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, at London

top secret

Washington, December 6, 1947—1 p. m.

Telmar 42. For Secretary from Lovett. Reference Deptel 586 of Dec 3 to USUN New York repeated London as 5067 of Dec 3.

Shortly prior your departure for London Dept adopted policy,¹ with Policy Committee on Arms and Armaments concurrence, of suspending authorization export from US arms, ammunition, other war material intended for use Palestine or neighboring countries until situation in that area had clarified. Suspension also held apply export licenses already issued but not utilized and include disposals from US-controlled stocks abroad.²

In view recent disorder Palestine and threats from Arab states, Dept anticipates representatives Jewish Agency who are also representatives of Zionist Organization of America will shortly request US Govt to permit export to Palestine from US of military supplies.

Dept proposes if and when approached by representatives Jewish Agency, to reply:

1) In period preceding termination mandate, requests for military supplies should be made to British authorities in Palestine.

2) In period following termination mandate, requests for military supplies should be made to UN Commission. Commission procedure thereafter is as yet unknown.

3) US Govt believes UN Commission might wish at early date initiate conversations with British in London re military supplies which British may be able to make available.

Suggest you may wish inform Bevin character reply which Dept proposes make to JA representatives if latter approach Dept.³

Lovett

1. On November 14, as indicated in PCA summary of action, No. S–69.
2. For the statement released by the Department of State on December 5 concerning the discontinuation of the licensing of shipments of arms and ammunition to Middle East areas, see Department of State Bulletin, December 14, 1947, p. 1197. Under the new policy, the Department revoked its approval of the sale of sufficient arms and ammunition to train 100 Syrian pilots for one year (memorandum of December 1 by the Chief of the Munitions Division (Cummins) to Col. R. M. Barton of the Department of the Army). The approval had been given in a note of May 17, 1947, from the Secretary of State to the Syrian Minister. The memorandum and the note are both filed under 890D.24/4–2947.
3. According to telegram Martel 60, December 10, from London, the substance of Telmar 42 was conveyed to Michael Wright, Superintending Under-Secretary in the British Foreign Office, on December 10 for delivery to Mr. Bevin. Mr. Wright’s initial reaction was to “warmly welcome” this step by the Department (501.BB Palestine/12–1047).