501.BB Palestine/3–2248
Memorandum by the Counselor (Bohlen) to Mr. Robert M. McClintock 1
With reference to the attached memorandum from Mr. McClintock:2
As I was on the Hill that morning I did not receive the memorandum until late in the morning upon my return. Since Mr. Lovett’s suggestion with regard to that portion of the telegram3 already cleared with Mr. Forrestal referred not to any question calling for any action by Senator Austin in the Palestine question, but was merely for his information only—in order to safeguard against being committed indirectly to a course of action not in accordance with the President’s program; and in view of the fact that the Security Council meeting at which the agreed program was to go forward was already in session, I did not consider it necessary to check this point with the President in the afternoon.
I would like to emphasize again that this point did not bear on the statement that Senator Austin was then making before the Security Council but was merely for his information concerning our eventual participation in a trusteeship agreement as set forth in the program—which would not arise even for consideration until the proposed meeting of the General Assembly to consider the principle of UN trusteeship.