867N.01/7–3146: Telegram
The Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Harriman) to the Acting Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received July 31—3:48 p.m.]
3744. Delsec 762. Re Secdel 547 and 548.29 Personal and Secret from Harriman for the Acting Secretary. I delivered to Mr. Attlee personally this morning in Paris letter explaining President’s position regarding proposed Palestine plan and public statement he intends to issue today.
Attlee gave immediate thought to what Mr. Morrison30 should say in the House today when he presents the British Govt’s position. As to the American position I gather that he will simply state that the President is unable to approve the proposal as a joint Anglo-American plan but that he hoped to hear further from the President on the whole problem. He was confused, however, as to what the British Govt’s position regarding the plan should now be. He said that the British Govt’s confidence in the success of the plan had been based on the US giving it moral as well as financial support. He has doubts whether the British Govt could force it alone. He emphasized his fear of increased chaos in Palestine. He showed keen disappointment that this plan could not have the support of the US as it was the only one yet devised which in the opinion of the British Govt would make it possible to bring into Palestine promptly the hundred thousand Jews.
[Page 676]I explained to him the public reaction to the plan in the US with which the President was confronted. He expressed the hope that the President would give sympathetic consideration to the serious difficulties which confronted the British Govt in Palestine and in the Middle East from Arabs as well as Jews.
Sent Dept as 3744; repeated London as 571.