501.BB Palestine/5–2749: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
1844. Urtel 2037, May 25.1 You may inform FonOff substance paras 1 through six inclusive of Tab A attached to memo to Pres dated May 9, but not para 7 or covering memo. You shld make clear to FonOff that financial estimates therein were obtained through analysis best US–UK technical info available to USG; that figures do not constitute in any sense an approved US program or specific US financial commitment and that figures are susceptible of reduction or expansion in light of number of obvious variables. We hope discuss foregoing soonest with Brit Emb Washington.
Reur para 1, we are aware of urgency formulating plans continuing refugee relief. We are sending you today by separate tel our suggestions re frame of ref for proposed Economic Survey Group, for FonOff’s comments. Functions of survey group would include determination number refugees unable receive direct or indirect support on wage payment basis and estimated costs direct relief for this category. Assuming political situation permits activation survey group near future, it could complete its overall recommendations to PCC, including action which wld be required by GA re continuing relief program, by Sept 1. Unless it becomes clear within few weeks that group cannot [Page 1064] be activated near future, Dept wld not wish prejudge survey group’s conclusions by formulating independent plan for relief program outside context of overall plan for solution refugee problem.
- Not printed; it advised that Messrs. Hare, Kopper, and Jones discussed the refugee question with officers of the Eastern Department of the British Foreign Office on May 24 and sought the Department’s permission to advise the Foreign Office of the contents of telegram 1789, May 23, to London, and the memorandum of May 9 to the White House (501.BB Palestine/5–2549). Telegram 1789 was a repeat of 674 to Bern, p. 1047.↩