867N.01/8–1546: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Harriman) to the Acting Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received August 15—7:08 p.m.]
7552. Personal for the Acting Secretary. At Attlee’s request I called on him this afternoon. Hall, Colonial Secretary, was with him. Hall has seen Weizmann, Goldmann and Wise. They discussed with him their plan and attempted to make as a condition of the Jewish Agency’s acceptance the British invitation to the consultations that their plan be made the basis of the discussions. Hall explained to them that the British Government could not accept this condition. The British Government would propose the original plan but were fully ready to consider the Jewish Agency proposals and proposals from the Arabs as well. Goldmann and Wise have returned to Paris to consult the other members of the Jewish Agency Executive and will inform the British Government promptly whether they will agree to accept the invitation to the consultations. Hall believes they will accept. Hall told me that the Jewish Agency had evidently been under the misapprehension that the British Government had intended to put forward its plan in a rigid manner for acceptance without deviation; whereas, the British Government was in fact entirely flexible and were prepared to give full consideration to both Jewish and Arab proposals. Hall told me on further development that the Agency’s conception of the boundary of the Negeb area runs further north than that of the British. This may prove to be a difficulty in that it encompasses Arab communities of considerable population. Hall wished that this be kept in the strictest confidence as he thought it was unwise to have premature public discussions of this point prior to the consultations.
[Page 686]Mr. Attlee was desirous that the President should know of these developments for his information. He showed equal concern as Bevin had regarding the resettlement plan for the Jews in Europe including Jews on a world-wide basis and expressed the earnest hope that the President would support it. He emphasized the importance that this would have on the Arab reaction at the consultations.
Repeated to Paris, for the Secretary as 629.