245. Paper Agreed Upon at the Conference at Bermuda1
3. AGREED POSITION CONCERNING THE PROSPECT OF A PALESTINE SETTLEMENT2
- (i)
- It must be recognized that the chances of a general settlement of the Palestine question are at present remote.
- (ii)
- The policies of the two Governments should therefore concentrate for the time being on the piecemeal settlement of various particular problems as they arise and the gradual creation of a better atmosphere in which a final political settlement would be possible. The United Nations could be used to keep up the pressure on the parties for a solution of particular problems.
- Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 828. Secret. An earlier version of this paper, BEM D–3/3a, March 16, is scheduled for publication in volume XXVII. The Bermuda Conference agreed upon six papers relating to the Middle East. Papers 1 and 2, “Agreement on Study of Middle East Problems” and “Agreed Position on Guarantees for Maintenance of the Flow of Middle East Oil through Pipelines”, are scheduled for publication in volume XII. Papers 3, 4, and 5 are printed here. Paper 6 contained an agreement to continue discussions concerning Libya. Regarding the U.S.–U.K. discussions on Libya, see vol. XVIII, pp. 479 ff.↩
-
At a meeting among Secretary Dulles, Foreign Secretary Lloyd, and other American and British officials at 10:30 a.m. on March 23 the following discussion occurred:
“The Secretary said that he thought the paper on Palestine which had been agreed in Washington prior to commencement of the Bermuda Conference was too pessimistic and suggested that phraseology be introduced that would indicate that these views were held as of the present moment only. He thought that if developments should take a favorable turn we should be in a position to move in boldly. Selwyn Lloyd agreed.” (Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 861)
↩