501.BB Palestine/10–3148: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State
us urgent
4689. For Lovett from the Secretary. I had a long talk yesterday noon with Bevin, Roberts and Michael Wright, Douglas participating. Much concern over exposed position of Arab Legion with very little ammunition due to strictness of British embargo. Bevin stated that if Haganah moved on either flank of Legion he would be compelled to supply Legion with ammunition. Greatest concern was over next few days. It would require ten days to provide by air lift to British fields the supply necessary.
Bevin and associates feel that Israeli forces have been heavily reinforced with arms and planes, particularly through Czechoslovakia, while Arabs have got nothing. It is believed here that Soviets have facilitated Israeli dealings in Czechoslovakia, just as they are courting Arab dissension with British.
Bevin stated he would take no action on supply of ammunition before Wednesday.
I made guarded statement of the case to the effect that American decision could not be made until final character of resolution re truce was determined and I had received instructions from Washington. At last meeting of seniors of US delegation in Paris Friday morning [Page 1535] Mrs. Roosevelt and Cohen took very emphatic stand. Rusk reported to me later he could find no agreement with Cohen except on basis of 100 percent acceptance of Cohen’s view.
I see by morning papers here that special committee of Security Council is proposing adoption of truce resolution apparently as originally drafted, with Ukraine opposing, possibly prophetic of Soviet veto. I am assuming instructions from Washington will meet me in Paris.
I fear this matter will lead to fatal results so far as possibility of Palestine solution is concerned and almost equally serious results re Berlin issue.
Sent Department, repeated Paris as 822 for Rusk and Carter.