Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V, Part 2

501.BB Palestine/9–1048: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State

top secret
us urgent

London, September 10, 1948—5 p. m.

4058. For Lovett from Douglas. Following reply to Department’s 3573, September 9¹ should be read in connection with my 4057, September 10 which was prepared prior receipt Department’s reference telegram.

1. Foreign Office is gratified by Department’s desire to approach Mediator as quickly as possible and believes it would be most helpful, as do I, to have McClintock come here for consultation. Foreign Office points out that this need not involve undue delay.

2. Latest Foreign Office information re Mediator’s movements is that he was due to return to Rhodes today to start work on his report. As Foreign Office suggested in paragraph 7 Embassy’s reference telegram, FonOff believes that British Consul [at] Rhodes should arrange at earliest possible moment for Mediator to meet with McClintock and British representative at mutually convenient place. Foreign Office agrees that Cairo probably most desirable spot and hopes for early US reply so that steps can be taken with Mediator. Foreign Office will entrust its top secret conversations with Mediator to either Troutbeck or Dow depending on which is most convenient. If meeting Cairo, it would be Troutbeck.²

3. Foreign Office considers it essential that US and UK representatives say substantially same things to Mediator but are opposed to handing Mediator any agreed document: Foreign Office is preparing for discussion with McClintock brief from which British representative will speak. Text brief will be telegraphed if completed before McClintock arrives.

[Here follows paragraph numbered 4 dealing with flight arrangements for Mr. McClintock.]

Douglas

1. Not printed, but see footnote 1, p. 1387.
2. Sir John M. Troutbeck, Head of the British Middle East Office at Cairo.