501.BB Palestine/3–2448: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Gallman) to the Secretary of State
1218. Beeley advised Embassy today that Foreign Office has instructed Cadogan to tell USDel UN that while His Majesty’s Government sympathizes with motives US Government in making further attempt to avert civil war Palestine, is not possible for His Majesty’s Government to depart in SC from its neutral attitude.
2. Beeley referred to charge made Parliament March 23 to effect that State Department and Foreign Office together have been concocting settlement unfavorable Jewish state (Paragraph 7 Embtel 12071). He thought public support His Majesty’s Government in SC would lend color to this widely-circulated false story and consequently probably not be helpful to Department.
3. Beeley said he was sorry that British Government’s public attitude will seem unhelpful because it is not intention His Majesty’s Government to be unhelpful. For example, Foreign Office hopes to reply at an early date to Department’s questions regarding Palestine put to British Embassy Washington. Beeley believes there may be further steps of same kind which can be taken. Personally, he is exploring idea of drafting interim arrangements for Jerusalem and holy places (see Paragraph 4 Embs 1191, March 232).
4. Embassy has impression that personally British officials dealing with Palestine problem consider new attitude US Government as sound legally and can conceive no better move in present circumstances. However, British Cabinet and British politicians are deeply sensible of overwhelming popular demand in UK to get “the boys” home from Palestine and believe all sections British public would react strongly if for whatever cause under whatever aegis, an attempt were made to keep “the boys” in Palestine even for short while beyond announced period. Long experience of being shot at by both sides in Palestine and being vilified by Zionists all nations has, in view British politicians, so calloused British conscience that it is insensate on this particular subject. The British officials who are sympathetic with US Government motives and see logic US Government position are faced with problem getting a hearing from British politicians who now have a popular and firm Palestine policy which they will not abandon easily. However, these officials may be able to persuade their superiors after termination mandate (thus keeping pledge to British electorate) to venture in cooperation with US and/or UN somewhat beyond present [Page 759] neutral position His Majesty’s Government, although in present mood British public Embassy believes it most unlikely that any British troops will be made available for use in Palestine.