501.BB Palestine/7–2948: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Legation in Saudi Arabia
313. Dept notes (Legtel 441 July 291) Ibn Saud’s pessimism re Bernadotte’s mediation efforts and Ibn Saud’s informal suggestion re meeting of American, British, Jewish and Arab experts on Palestine and ME.2
Dept appreciates motives which have influenced King in thus seeking realistically to find early settlement to Palestine problem. Dept recalls (Legtel 292 July 23, 19473) conciliatory manner in which Ibn Saud has consistently approached Palestine question.
It may also be recalled that Dept previously expressed belief to Ibn Saud (Dept 224 Aug 12, 19474) that prestige of UN itself was involved in task of achieving solution to Palestine problem and, as member of UN, U.S. desires strongly to support principles for which UN stands and to cooperate to full in promoting its influence in solving one of great problems presented to it.
Dept believes UN and UN Mediator have made substantial contributions toward solution of problem and that successful conclusion depends on continued U.S. support of such effort. It is hoped that the Arabs and the Jews themselves will work with UN Mediator to assist him in promoting the peaceful adjustment of the future situation of Palestine under GA resolution May 14.
Please discuss foregoing orally with SAG. British informed Dept Aug 16 that British Ambassador is replying in same general sense.
Sent Jidda; repeated London.
- Not printed.↩
- Telegram 441 read in pertinent part as follows: “His Majesty desired to express informally to US and British Governments that two Americans and two British nationals thoroughly acquainted with ME problems and particularly that of Palestine should be selected and charged with getting in touch informally with both Arabs and Jews with view to working out some settlement.” (501.BB Palestine/7–2948)↩
- Foreign Relations, 1947, vol. v, p. 1131.↩
- Ibid., p. 1137.↩