Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Near East and Africa, Volume VII

867N.01/12–246

The Secretary of State to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Bevin)⁹⁹

top secret

[New York,] December 2, 1946.

Dear Ernest: Referring to your letter of November 29 as to the Palestine matter,¹ I note your statement that His Majesty’s Government will study most carefully all suggestions submitted at the Conference.

The Jewish leaders, with whom I have recently conferred, regardless of views formerly held by them, now regard the partition proposal as the most practical long-term solution. My opinion is that before agreeing to attend the Conference in January, they would want to be assured specifically that the partition proposal favored by them would be fully considered by [His Majesty’s Government.]

I wish that you would let me know whether the British Government is prepared to give serious consideration to alternative proposals offered by the conferees.

Sincerely yours,

James F. Byrnes

99. Mr. Byrnes and Mr. Bevin were attending the sessions of the Council of Foreign Ministers, which met at New York City from November 4 to December 12, 1946.
1. Not found in Department files.