501.BB Palestine/4–2248: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
top secret
London, April 22,
1948—11 a. m.
1672. Deptel 1375, April 17. For Lovett from Douglas.
- 1.
- Very late yesterday afternoon, after Bevin had discussed our proposals on Palestine with the Prime Minister and his colleagues, he spent an hour reviewing the matter with me. We meet again today to continue.
- 2.
- Bevin’s views expressed yesterday were as follows:
- (a)
- He and his colleagues think that an agreed truce by the Arabs and the Jews is most unlikely;
- (b)
- That in the absence of agreement between the parties, the proposal for trusteeship will require the use of substantial force; and
- (c)
- That HMG will not participate in the use of force against either the Jews or the Arabs to impose an unacceptable regime.
- 3.
- I can assure you that Bevin is deeply concerned; that he recognizes the dangerous possibilities in the situation; that his attitude is not inspired by an unwillingness to cooperate. Should the British use force against either party, and should Arabs lose lives as a result, the consequences extending from Pakistan through the Middle East may present us both with an even more dangerous problem. Bevin hopes that we understand the dilemma. He will talk with me further about the matter today.
Douglas