501.BB Palestine/10–1348: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State
niact
Delga 319. Eyes alone for Lovett from the Secretary. Reference Douglas’ 44851 and 44862 London on amendments to statement.
For your press conference and regarding your telephone conversation with Rusk and Telmar 63:3 I have modified Bevin’s proposed last two paragraphs by striking out words “may” and “minor” in sentence commencing “it should not be et cetera” and inserting the word “essential” before word “equilibrium”.
Cohen makes this proposal as substitute last paragraph: “In our opinion the Bernadotte Plan provides a sound basis for a renewed effort in the part of the UN to bring about a peaceful adjustment of differences. This should not prevent such modifications of the Bernadotte Plan as the UN finds helpful to promote a peaceful settlement which would open the way for the long term development and stability of the Near East.”
Comment on Cohen’s proposed paragraph: Cohen believes his more general statement would help reduce pressures building up on President. I see no difference between his and my last paragraphs as far as UN Assembly is concerned. I would accept Cohen’s suggestion provided Douglas can assure us that it would not seriously interfere with joint US–UK action Palestine. Douglas please follow up and advise Lovett and me immediately. End of comment.
Palestine, by decision Committee I today, will be taken up for one day on Friday, while awaiting reports of Subcommittees on Atomic Energy and Disarmament. We do not expect to speak in Committee I on Friday and present likelihood is that Palestine debate would not be resumed until late next week. We, and particularly Dulles, desired to place it after Greece on the agenda but did not succeed in getting the change. Effort was to hold it until after election. Bohlen, Rusk and [Page 1471] I feel certain that if President himself makes statement, as his political advisers no doubt insist, he will inevitably carry issue direct into political campaign as Dewey will certainly respond. Issue here will be thrown into confusion and possibility of settlement at least postponed and truce imperiled.4
Repeated to London 105 [1058], eyes alone for the Ambassador.
- Dated October 13, not printed; but see footnote 1, supra.↩
- Dated October 13, supra.↩
- Dated October 12, not printed; but see footnote 5, p. 1467.↩
- Acting Secretary Lovett, on October 13,
informed Mr. Clifford that he had “told Rusk to use best efforts to
have American Delegation let others do the talking” on October 15
(telegram White 203, Clifford
Papers).
The United States Delegation at Paris decided, on October 15, that “US would not participate in any substantive debate on Palestinian problem during Committee One discussions October 15 and 16, but that explanation our position would be postponed until Palestine problem is more fully considered upon conclusion of Committee One’s work on atomic energy and conventional armaments—perhaps at end of next week.” (Telegram Delga 340, October 15, 5 p. m., from Paris, 501.BB Palestine/10–1548)
↩