501.BB Palestine/9–2547
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
| Participants: | Secretary Marshall; |
| Lord Inverchapel, British Ambassador; | |
| Mr. Creech Jones; | |
| Mr. Hector McNeil1 |
The three gentlemen arrived at noon for an early lunch. After a brief period of general conversation the Ambassador stated that Mr. Bevin had given Mr. Douglas on the previous Sunday morning an outline of the British position in regard to Palestine, anticipating that Mr. Douglas was flying to Washington and would go over the matter with me and with the President. On learning that Douglas was coming home by steamer Mr. Bevin directed that I be gotten in touch with immediately and that Creech Jones explain the matter to me personally; therefore their call by telephone late the previous evening.
Mr. Creech Jones then stated the British position that was to be announced the following morning.2 I will not go over this because it is now a matter of public information.
Mr. McNeil stated he hoped that there would not be a reaction in the United States along the line, similar to the case in Greece, that the British were “walking out” on us. I stated that from my brief understanding of their statement, I thought that would not be the case.
I stated that I personally was very sympathetic to the British dilemma and, without discussing the wisdom of the course they had followed in particular incidents, that I felt they had been the victims of an impossible situation and considerable unjust criticism. I further stated that in our approach to the matter we would deal with it on the highest level, meaning by implication which I did not explain, that we would treat the matter as an international affair and not permit local political pressures to determine our actions.
There was little else said at the interview other than a repetition of the British statement for my benefit in order that I might understand the various factors involved.
- British Representative at the Second Session of the General Assembly.↩
- In a statement before the Ad Hoc Committee on September 26, reported in telegram 883, September 26, 2:18 p. m., from New York, Mr. Creech Jones noted that there was no conflict between the general conclusions of UNSCOP and the broad objectives of British policy. He concluded that his Government was ready to assume responsibility for carrying out any plan securing Arab and Jewish agreement, but if the Assembly recommended a policy not acceptable to the Arabs and Jews, his Government would not feel able to give effect to it. In the latter case it would be necessary to provide an alternative implementing authority (501.BB Palestine/9–2647). For the official record of his statement, see GA (II), Ad Hoc Committee, p. 2.↩