867N.01/5–2448: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
2226. For the Secretary’s eyes only from Douglas. Bevin has sent me the following note about Transjordan for your top secret information:
“On the termination of the British mandate, all the units of the Arab Legion which had been serving in Palestine under British command had been evacuated from Palestine except for one company which was unable to extricate itself in time, owing to the British troops in Jerusalem moving earlier than was expected. HMG then ceased to be responsible for the Arab Legion.
“It is suggested that HMG still have a moral responsibility because of the British subsidy, the loan of British officers and the supply of war material. All these are part of our treaty obligations.
“As regards the subsidy, the last installment was paid in April and the next will become due in July. We will naturally consider the whole situation before paying it.
“As regards the officers, for the top secret information of Mr. Marshall, their instructions are that they must withdraw to Transjordan if the Legion becomes involved in hostilities with the Jewish state as a result of an attack on the state within the frontiers recommended by the Assembly.
“As regards the supply of war material, this is confined, in accordance with our general policy, to the completion of existing contracts.
“The Jewish Agency informed Mr. Marshall some time ago that there was contact between the Jews and the Arab Legion, through the intermediary of a British officer. We have received similar top secret reports. We understand that the Jews knew the Arab Legion would enter Arab areas of Palestine and that this was not unwelcome to them. We have always thought that there might be considerable advantage in an arrangement by which the Haganah and the Arab Legion might be given responsibility for maintaining law and order in different areas.
“The Arab Legion have not entered any part of the area recommended for the Jewish state by the Assembly.
“The Arab Legion attack on parts of Jerusalem was the direct consequence of the breaking of the cease-fire there by the Jews. We are confident the attack would not have taken place if the Jews had [Page 1039] accepted the truce for Jerusalem. Latest information suggests that the Arab Legion will henceforth be mainly on the defensive in Jerusalem.”