501.BB Palestine/11–148: Telegram
The Special Representative of the United States in Israel (McDonald) to the Presidents Special Counsel (Clifford)
urgent
222. Personal attention Clark Clifford. In light present Paris discussion possible UN sanctions in Palestine, I beg you to ask President reread my letter to him September 19 especially last paragraph and his letter tome October 4.1 I cannot overemphasize that my judgment now is identical with mine September 19. In answer to possible objection that I am unjustifiably anticipating crisis I would reply that advance consideration is vital in order avoid possibility hasty decision withdraw head mission as a preliminary sanction.
Perhaps President will wish discuss my viewpoint with Acting Secretary.
- Copies not found in Department of State files; for texts, see McDonald, My Mission to Israel, 1948–1951 (New York, Simon and Schuster, 1951), pp. 81, 82. Mr. McDonald’s letter, after referring to Count Bernadotte’s assassination, expressed the hope that President Truman would “discourage any possible move to weaken this Mission or to withdraw its head as a form of sanctions or as evidence of U.S. displeasure.” The President, in his reply, stated that he would “discourage any move to weaken the Mission or to withdraw its head as a form of sanctions.”↩