Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/1–2449: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

top secret
Washington, January 24, 1949—7 p. m.

us urgent

niact

259. When Sir Oliver Franks called on Secretary this morning we went over draft of proposed statement which Secretary would have made on US–UK attitude toward Middle East, which referred to such development as hoped-for UK decision to recognize PGI, French de [Page 696] facto recognition of Israel and appointment of Ethridge as USRep Palestine Conciliation Commission. Basic para, relating to UK–US policy in Middle East was as follows:

[Here follows second paragraph of draft statement, printed page 691.]

Premise on which statement was to be issued was announcement today of UK intention to accord de facto recognition to PGI at early date. However, British Ambassador following his meeting with Secretary informed us that Cabinet had decided not to make such announcement today. Accordingly Secretary’s statement will not be made.

Remaining problem was remarks which Bevin plans to address to House of Commons on Jan 26. Brit Emb has shown Dept text of For Sec’s proposed statement explaining this had crossed tel from Amb same subject. Dept on informal basis indicated certain deletions and alternative phraseology which would make it more acceptable from US point of view. It was stressed however that Dept had no intention “clearing” Bevin’s remarks, and that they had not been seen by Sec. Our action was impelled by friendly desire assist For Sec and particularly avoid his making statements which would encourage close questioning of Pres or Sec here who would be forced in making record clear to indicate that two Govts had not always seen eye to eye on how to approach Palestine problem. We told Brit Emb that if questions should ensue prompted by debate in Commons Wed we would probably reply in terms of para quoted above from proposed See’s statement.

Separate tel1 provides verbatim text of Bevin’s remarks as annotated on strictly informal basis in Dept after necessary elimination parts referring to See’s proposed statement.

Acheson
  1. Infra. ↩