501.BB Palestine/2–1349: Telegram
Ambassador Stanton Griffis to the Secretary of State 1
From Griffis for Secretary Acheson. While I have been on leave for more than two months operating UN relief program I trust that you will permit me following my long meeting with Ethridge yesterday to express to you my feeling regarding Palestine settlement based on six months careful study here and personal contacts with substantially every Arab city ruler and high minister.
Innumerable telegrams on file in Department have carried my firm feeling that no final settlement of Palestine problem can be reached prior to high level agreement between US and UK regarding the three moot questions: borders, rehabilitation of refugees and internationalization Jerusalem. I have expressed and urged this opinion in personal conversation with President, Secretary Marshall, Lovett, all [Page 748] members NE Division, members USUNDel Paris and highest level British diplomats here. Everyone has agreed in substance but apparently little result. My complete argument is that matter must be settled first in London and Washington before it can be settled here.
The Arab states have not slightest interest in feelings of France, Turkey or Peru nor indeed in feelings and opinions of UN. They are bored, confused and without confidence in mediators, commissions and UN orders. They are interested in exactly one thing. What are the intents and desires of US and UK and will US and UK make such pronunciations in conjunction with UN as will give them face-saving device of stating that partition of Palestine was forced upon them by higher powers.
This morning Turkish delegate Yalcin in Cairo newspaper statement blazoned statement “We don’t wish to force our opinions on anyone”. This is exactly opposite of what Egyptians want. They wish to use excuse of coercion and thereby save a critically unstable government which fully realizes that other Arab states except Transjordan have little further interest in entire problem. In other words basically [we?] are dealing only with Israel, Transjordan and Egypt. Rightly or not all Arab states believe that Israel will do exactly what US dictates and Transjordan under complete British domination.
A strong and prompt publicly stated agreement by US and UK will go a great distance towards settlement and I believe quickly solve this potentially terribly dangerous situation but it must be backed up by the strongest US and British representations both to Israel and Egypt by respective US–UK highest levels. Otherwise believe UN settlement will drag out many months or years.
Have no intention or desire bypass UN. Of course final settlements should be made formally through them.
Ethridge has read this cable and states strongly concurs. High regards.
Sent Department 165, repeated London.
- Transmitted to the Department by Cairo in telegram 165.↩