890.00/11–949
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Lucius D. Battle, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State
| Participants: | Secretary Acheson |
| Foreign Minister Bevin | |
| Ambassador Douglas | |
| Mr. Barclay1 | |
| Mr. Battle |
During a conversation with the Secretary this morning, Mr. Bevin raised several questions concerning the Near East. Mr. Bevin said that he was very worried over developments in the Near East. He mentioned the emergence of new groups and new ideas in the Arab world.
He said that it was difficult for him to continue to urge Iraq and Syria not to get together in a union, when the underlying forces in that area were so strong for Arab unity. He said that he feared that Russia might start a cry for Arab unity, which would make our position more difficult. He said that he felt that the unity movement, as it gained momentum, would spread rapidly through the area.
He expressed concern over the French insistence on the status quo, which the French based on the 1919 settlement. Mr. Bevin said that the British had no real hold over the people in the area. He said that the situation was quite difficult and he believed would become increasingly so.
He mentioned that he had asked Mr. Wright to discuss the problem with the Department of State in Washington. Continuing, Mr. Bevin said that if he spoke to the French regarding their insistence on status quo, it would be regarded as a revival of old British-French jealousies. [Page 1483] He expressed the hope that the United States could look into the matter and see if it were possible for the United States to take it up with the French.
Mr. Bevin asked if the United States had been considering these problems. In reply Mr. Acheson assured Mr. Bevin that the United States was greatly interested in these problems and mentioned that Assistant Secretary McGhee was making every effort to evolve a new approach to the area. Mr. Acheson said that the United States would continue to study and discuss these problems with the British.
Mr. Bevin mentioned that he thought it possible that Pakistan would try to set itself up as a leader of Moslem groups in that area in an effort to strengthen Pakistan’s position against Nehru.
Mr. Bevin mentioned that there appeared to be some difficulty in the proposed visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Russia. Mr. Acheson mentioned the fact that the President had approved the idea of issuing an invitation to the Prime Minister of Pakistan to visit the United States, at a date to be set later. He said that the Government of Pakistan was being informed that Mr. Truman was agreeable to a visit from the Prime Minister and that if the Prime Minister indicated his willingness to accept, an invitation would subsequently be issued to him.
- Roderick E. Barclay, Private Secretary to Mr. Bevin.↩