867N.113/5–1749
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Palestine Arms Embargo
The British Ambassador left with the Secretary of State an informal memorandum dated 27th April setting forth Mr. Bevin’s views on the Palestine Arms embargo in the light of British Treaty relationships with certain of the Arab States and of the British Government’s concern about internal security in the Middle Eastern countries.
[Page 1018]2. Mr. Bevin has now heard that the King of Egypt has told the Egyptian Prime Minister to proceed with military talks with British representatives and that three Egyptian officers have been nominated for the purpose. Simultaneously the Egyptian Prime Minister has again pressed the British Government about the resumption of the supply of arms to Egypt. It is clear that very little progress can be made with the former without the latter.
3. Mr. Bevin also understands that, following the signature of armistices between Israel and the neighbouring countries, the United States Government are informing both Israel and the Arab Governments that they are prepared to accept trainees from the Middle East for training in the United States National Defence Establishment. This might perhaps be regarded as a step in the same direction.
4. Mr. Bevin recognizes that a connection might be made between the supply of arms to the Arab States by the British Government and discussions about a military assistance programme in connection with the North Atlantic Treaty. He has verified that the military equip-anent which the British Government might supply to the Arab States has long been earmarked and consists of purely British-type equipment. This equipment in no way corresponds with equipment being requested from the United States as a result of the North Atlantic Treaty. The supply of the latter would not enable the British Government to release any corresponding or equivalent types for use by the Arab States, which would in fact be incapable of using such equipment.
5. Mr. Bevin is most anxious to proceed at an early date as proposed in paragraphs 3 and 5 of the British Embassy’s informal memorandum of the 27th April and he would therefore be most grateful for Mr. Acheson’s views as soon as possible.