Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/10–2948: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, at Paris

top secret   urgent
niact
Washington, October 29, 1948—1 a. m.

Telmar 119. Eyes only for the Secretary from the President. Following transmitted at President’s request by phone from New York:

“I am deeply concerned over reports here of action taken in Security Council on Palestine question. I hope that before this nation takes any position or any statement is made by our delegation that I be advised of such contemplated action and the implications thereof”1

Lovett

  1. The Clifford Papers contain a penciled copy of the President’s message in the handwriting of Mr. Clifford, who has acknowledged to the editors that he was the drafter of the message. A typewritten copy of the message in the Truman Papers, President’s Secretary’s File, bears the following notation in the handwriting of Mr. Elsey: “this message was phoned by Mr. Clifford to Under-Secretary Lovett in Washington, about mid-night, October 28, with instructions that Lovett send it to Marshall in Paris.”

    Secretary Marshall, in a personal, eyes only telegram from Paris to Mr. Lovett on October 29, asked: “To what do you think President is referring? If you do not know, ask him direct for me.” (Martel 95. 501.BB Palestine/10–2948)

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