501.BB Palestine/7–3148: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
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3049. During past month Bernadotte has continued to press his request for battalion of US Marines to serve as temporary UN guard-force for purpose of policing in Jerusalem. On July 30 Consul General Macdonald in Jerusalem flew to Rhodes to discuss the matter with Bernadotte at which time we suggested that Bernadotte’s policing efforts in Jerusalem might be met through the cooperation of Arabs and Jews in supplying well-disciplined units for this purpose. Bernadotte has reacted strongly to this approach as may be noted in Contels 1146 and 1147 Aug. 1, to which we are replying today. Copy each message repeated to you.
We note (Embtel 3479 July 31)1 that Bevin attaches importance to Mediator establishing himself in Jerusalem and to Mediator’s securing necessary security force from UN. We concur in first objective but disagree with regard to second for reasons stated in our reply to Contels 1146 and 1147.2
Please discuss this matter with Bevin or Wright at which time you might recall that we have consistently taken the position that US would not assume unilateral military commitment in Palestine, that SC has not thus far given consideration to question of UN forces for Jerusalem or Palestine and that we believe successful solution to Palestine problem rests on cooperation between Arabs and Jews.
It would be helpful if British Govt would support us in these views and would instruct their representatives in the Near East to take the same line in discussion with Bernadotte.3