Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V, Part 2

501.BB Palestine/10–2248: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, at Paris

top secret   us urgent
niact

Washington, October 22, 1948—5 p. m.

Telmar 91. Personal for Marshall and Rusk from Lovett. Re Martel 73,¹ reaction of White House so strong against action suggested in Delga 432,² with specific prohibition against paragraph (b) and most reluctant and qualified acceptance paragraph (a), there is no chance of getting decision reversed. Our Telmar 86³ was merely playing for a break in hopes Secretary’s Greek trip may have disclosed facts which might help affirmative presentation.

We agree any cover plan would be transparent and can only hope Arab bloc and other countries supporting postponement may continue take the lead. Postponement appears increasingly important if problem is to be dealt with realistically on its merits and outside domestic politics.

Lovett

1. Dated October 22, not printed; but see the first footnote 1, p. 1504.
2. Dated October 21, p. 1502.
3. Dated October 21, p. 1503.