467.11St25/42: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Davis ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8.04 p.m.]
3236. Department’s mail instruction 316 July 22 last.6 Following telegram sent to Ammission Paris, October 7th repeated for your information:
“Informal discussion at the Foreign Office yesterday at first available opportunity subsequent to my conversation with Thomas on the 18th [?] ultimo reveals the following to be the attitude of British Government regarding Standard Oil geologists at Jerusalem:
So long as Palestine remains under British military administration pending decision as to a mandatory therefor or the creation of a separate state British Government feels bound to prohibit the activities of any explorers, commercial agents or concessionaries or the fulfillment of any concessions granted in that district by the former Turkish Government because without restrictions or this nature that country would be flooded with such persons of every nationality and confusion and embarrassment would result. It seems that during British military activities in Mesopotamia a shortage of oil necessitated the temporary operation by British engineers of certain old oil wells. The British military authorities were however in one instance so lax as to permit more extended operations to be undertaken for a short time by an English oil expert, upon the discovery of which by superior authorities he was compelled by them to cease operations and leave the country.
This is the attitude of the British Government at present notwithstanding continued and increasing pressure from several sources to which they have not as yet acceded.”
- Not printed.↩