Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/7–1248: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State

top secret   us urgent
niact
London, July 12, 1948.

3138. For Lovett.

1.
Bevin has just spoken with me to give me information that while we [they?] agree to support substance of US resolution on Palestine with UK amendments, we [they?] are not prepared ourselves [themselves?] to introduce amended resolution for reason that it does not go far enough.
2.
Bevin while instructing Cadogan to support resolution is unwilling to instruct him to introduce it on behalf of UK for fear that such action by UK will destroy remaining influence UK possesses with Arabs, particularly Abdullah, so necessary to maintain if truce is to be reinstituted.
3.
Situation appears to be, therefore, we are apprehensive lest by introducing resolution we will impair our influence with Israeli followers while UK is apprehensive lest by introducing resolution she will destroy her residual influence with Arabs, especially Abdullah.
4.
To break this impasse of legitimate apprehensions, representatives of some other country may be persuaded to introduce resolution. UK is approaching Canadian and Belgian representatives and possibly also Argentinians.
5.
Suggest we remain in closest association with Cadogan and attempt to reinforce UK efforts to persuade the representatives of any one of the three referred to above or some other power to introduce resolution, thus avoiding for US and UK respectively the dangers implicit in proposing the resolution by either.
6.
Lurking in the background is the menace of Soviet behavior and the consequences thereof if our side allows the matter to go by default.
7.
If this appears to be rushing the gate, it is due to Bevin’s preoccupation with persuading the Arabs to acquiesce in a settlement based on an independent Israel.

Department please repeat Niact USUN.

Douglas