Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/4–2148: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

top secret   us urgent
niact
Washington, April 21, 1948—3 p. m.

1418. UK Delegation to UN in press conference at NY yesterday made following 4 points as reported in today’s NY Times:

  • “(1) Britain will retain no civil responsibility in Palestine after May 15.
  • (2) No British troops will be left in Palestine for any purpose whatever after Aug. 1.
  • (3) Between these two dates, there will be no enforcement by British forces of any settlement not having the agreement of both Jews and Arabs.
  • (4) Within these limits, however, the British Govt will cooperate in every way possible with any authority established in Palestine.”

In addition, official spokesman of UK delegation said that if any group of other powers were to request it, British Govt, would be willing to consider what adjustments could be made in its plans for withdrawing from Palestine, so as to help bridge gap while forces of this UN group were being organized and transported to Palestine. Britain would consider using its forces if necessary, even after May 15, for execution of SC political and military truce in Palestine. UK now urgently preparing next steps in this truce attempt.

Goldmann’s report of his conversation with McNeil, as set forth para. 1, your 1635, Apr. 20,1 would seem to corroborate foregoing press statement. However, para. 3, your 1630, Apr. 20, suggests that both Labor and Conservative Parties “would vigorously oppose any suggestion that Brit, troops be retained in Palestine.” If press conference statement and remarks attributed to McNeil are a correct reflection of British policy, we feel that this opportunity to utilize UK forces for an interim period should be promptly availed of.

Please check these points immediately with Bevin. Stress to him our hope that UK will find it possible to fill the breach in Palestine until a UN solution such as temporary trusteeship or some other arrangement can be found. You should make it clear, however, that we have not ceased to hope that UK, France and other Powers may find their [Page 840] way clear to join with us in sharing burden of implementation of temporary trusteeship if such a trusteeship is voted by GA.

Repeated to USUN as 240.

Lovett
  1. Not printed.↩