501.BB Palestine(E)/9–949: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
3281. Urtel 3642, Sep 9.1 UK reaction to request for dipl and publicity support of ESM difficult to reconcile with consistent UK support of ESM’s objectives in all previous interchanges with US, and with very fact of Brit participation on ESM. USG believes that failure ESM to achieve its objectives wld result in deferment political settlement foreseeable future, and that ESM therefore requires maximum support from outset. USG firmly convinced that success ESM is only present means creating atmosphere in which political-territorial settlement may be possible (Depcirtel 6:00 a. m. Aug 16), and that interjection political questions at present time might prejudice work ESM. This does not of course preclude raising of political questions as soon as acceptability and progress of ESM demonstrated, and atmosphere more auspicious for continuation political discussions.
Full US reply to UK Aide-Mémoire2 expected within few days.
- Not printed, it reported that the British Foreign Office had decided to await the reactions of the Department to a wider approach to the Israelis and the Arabs on settlement of the Palestine problem before instructing its Near Eastern Missions to extend diplomatic support to the Economic Survey Mission (501.BB Palestine/9–949).↩
- Dated September 1, p. 1342.↩