501.BB Palestine/3–749: Telegram
The Consul at Jerusalem (Burdett) to the Secretary of State
192. Palun 71. [From Ethridge?] In private conversation Musa Bey Husseini said to me that representatives of Israeli Government who have been carrying on conversations with Transjordanians have suggested that Arabs and Jews get together and make a deal that will defeat internationalization of Jerusalem. Jews, he said, have told Transjordanians that they can give the Arabs a better deal than internationalization. Jews have said repeatedly that US is not interested in internationalization and only France is. In press conference inspired [Page 799] question was directed to proposition of what is Commission’s attitude if private arrangement is made. I replied as chairman of Commission that if the deal is in accord with letter and spirit of GA resolution Commission would welcome it but no deal would relieve US of responsibility of reporting a plan. [Ethridge?]