Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

501.BB Palestine(E)/9–2149: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

secret

Washington, September 21, 1949—3 p. m.

3428. For your background info, Dept has for some time been disturbed by inadequate support given by Brit to ESM since its activation. For example (1) Brit failed to inform their missions to support ESM and explain its objectives to NE govts until US representations made to UK; (2) Morton, discussing ESM with USDel Lausanne, stated HMG seriously disturbed by turn of events re ESM and said he understood agreement previously reached that ESM wld consist govt reps empowered to suggest and conclude with NE states polit agreements for solution Pal problems based on repatriation resettlement projects; (3) Brit Chargé Amman informed US Chargé his scepticism re success ESM and regret over Brit involvement in ESM; (4) Bevin in Sep 13 conversation with Sec displayed negative attitude in general re Pal and said he had no faith in ESM or “any other commission”; (5) tel from Ted Aviv no. 124 to London Sep 20.¹

UK attitude this question difficult to understand since Dept had understood all previous differences with UK re composition structure ESM fully reconciled (refer particularly to Deptel 2617, July 26,² urtel 2978,³ July 28; Deptel 2770, Aug 4;⁴ urtel 3093, Aug 5⁵). Dept hopes question inadequate support of ESM has now been satisfactorily resolved, (urtel 3711 Sep 15⁶).

Although Brit now appear to be acting more energetically, you shld seek whenever appropriate and on continuing basis to emphasize importance which USG attaches to UK participation on ESM, UK support in field, and eventual UK contribution to implementation its recommendations. You shld inquire of FonOff re specific reaction each NE state to recent representations on ESM, explaining Dept’s desire for full info in order assure continuing coordination of action this regard, and to insure concerted effort by US, UK, Fr, Turk missions in NE to support and elucidate ESM’s purposes.

Pls report fully any evidence UK still reluctant extend support.

Acheson

1. This was a repeat of No. 700 to the Department; it stated that “In talk with British Chargé September 19 re ESM, he stated only specific instructions yet received from his government indicated some unwillingness ‘be too precipitate’ in lending support ESM in Israel because of opposition which had developed certain Arab states notably Iraq. Thus he said while he was authorized ‘in principle’ to coordinate his approach to Israel Government with those of US and French, he must necessarily ‘go slow’ until results of current negotiations with recalcitrant Arab Governments became known and position ESM vis-à-vis such governments had been clarified.” (501.BB Palestine(E)/9–2049)
2. Not printed, but see footnote 1, p. 1258.
3. Not printed.
4. Not printed, but see footnote 2, p. 1258.
5. No. 3093 not printed; it gave the observation of a Foreign Office spokesman that except for the personnel question, there seemed to be general agreement with the United States on the establishment of the survey mission (501.BB Palestine/8–549).
6. Not printed, it reported that the Foreign Office had sent telegrams late in the evening of September 14 to British missions at Arab capitals and Tel Aviv, requesting them to give diplomatic support to the Economic Survey Mission (501.BB Palestine (E)/9–1549).