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

867N.00/10–1449

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Officer in Charge of Palestine–Israel–Jordan Affairs (Wilkins)

confidential

[Washington,] October 14, 1949.

Participants:	Mr. Greenhill, First Secretary British Embassy
	Mr. Wilkins

(a) Problem: The internationalization of Jerusalem and the incorporation of Arab Palestine in Jordan.¹

(b) Action Required: Orally to inform the British Embassy in Washington and the American Embassy in London of our views.

(c) Action Assigned to: ANE

Mr. Greenhill² called this morning to discuss current developments regarding Palestine with particular reference to the internationalization of Jerusalem.

Mr. Greenhill reported that the Foreign Office was pleased that the United States Government had not adopted a rigid attitude regarding the present PCC proposals for the internationalization of Jerusalem and wished to make the following points with regard to present Arab and Israeli authority in Jerusalem:

1. Insofar as Israeli authority was concerned, the Israeli Government or a group owing allegiance to the Israeli Government already have authority in the Israeli area of Jerusalem. The Foreign Office did not believe equitable consideration could be given to the future of the Jerusalem area unless we knew what Arab authority there was—at least in principle;

2. Early action regarding the incorporation of Arab Palestine within Jordan would solve the question of Arab authority in Jerusalem.

The British Foreign Office had, therefore, requested the British Embassy to ascertain the Department’s urgent views regarding the following possibilities:

1. The General Assembly should be asked to approve in principle the absorption of Arab Palestine into Jordan as being in principle inseparable from a disposition of Jerusalem and of the refugee question (perhaps leaving boundaries and the status of the Gaza strip for later discussion);

2. The General Assembly should be asked to direct the Palestine Conciliation Commission under paragraph 2 B of the December 11 resolution (which makes it possible for the General Assembly and the Security Council to issue new directives to the PCC) to bring about the incorporation of Arab Palestine into Jordan at the earliest possible moment and to report on action taken to the next session of the General Assembly.

I recalled Mr. Bevin had previously raised this matter with the Secretary of State and that it was our opinion the incorporation of Arab Palestine into Jordan at this particular moment was premature.

I expressed the preliminary personal view that present Arab authority in Jerusalem was as valid as present Israeli authority in Jerusalem and that if either Jordan or the General Assembly took formal action regarding the incorporation of Arab Palestine into Jordan, Israel would probably take formal action regarding the incorporation within Israel of those areas in Palestine which it now occupies beyond the 1947 partition line (Western Galilee, the region between Ramie, Lydda and Beersheba and the northern section of the Gaza strip). I added that formal action by Jordan or the General Assembly might be expected to inject political factors into UN consideration of the Palestine question which was now being handled on technical economic grounds. I also recalled that the General Assembly had refused in the fall of 1948 to take action of the character now being suggested by the Foreign Office.

I said that we would give immediate consideration to the present British views and would inform him of our reactions.³

1. British Minister Kirkbride, on October 4, had expressed to Mr. Fritzlan his view that Jordanian annexation of Arab Palestine was the only way to prevent Israeli seizure of the area in a series of faits accomplis. Mr. Fritzlan replied that “while this might be true, timing such act of union important consideration and that ill considered hasty action on part Abdullah might cause much harm.” The British Minister “indicated apprehension lest failure US and UK agree soon to formal annexation might cause King take such precipitous action.” (telegram 364, October 5, 10 a. m., from Amman, 867N.014/10–549)
2. Mr. Denis A. Greenhill, First Secretary of the British Embassy.
3. Messrs. Wilkins and Greenhill met again on October 21 to discuss the Palestine situation; for the nature of their discussion, see footnote 3 to telegram 3828, October 25, p. 1452.