Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V, Part 2

867N.01/12–2248: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Holmes) to the Acting Secretary of State

secret

London, December 22, 1948—7 p. m.

5337. Following obtained today from Burrows and Beeley re Palestine:

1. On telegram from British Embassy Prague in sense Department’s 4592, December 8,¹ re new Czech restrictions on aid to PGI, Bevin personally scrawled, “Watch for Soviet swing towards Arabs—E. B.”

2. Burrows said that although there is great activity re Palestine, Amman, and Cairo, so far nothing very definite has emerged and there is little evidence that Egypt and Transjordan have gotten very far towards reconciling their differences. Individual Egyptians have been urging UK to use its good offices to bring two countries together, but so far only UK action has been to express view to both that such reconciliation would be “good thing”. Burrows said Foreign Office is reluctant to play an active role at this delicate stage and thinks Abdullah, “who has been doing very well,” probably knows best (Embassy 5243, December 14² paragraph 2).

3. Foreign Office considers Abdullah is working in right direction but is wise in not moving too fast because it would be foolish for him to outpace Egypt. His action in appointing new Mufti was “courageous” and one which may help situation because new Mufti was regarded by former Palestine Government as best Moslem Divine Palestine and as such was appointed by it head Sharia Courts.

4. Burrows said he understood there were roughly three lines of thought re Palestine current in Egypt:

(a) That Transjordan and Egypt might keep their troops in respective areas on de facto basis pud that this situation would gradually solidify without necessity for controversial declarations re sovereignty, negotiations with PGI etc.

(b) That while direct negotiations with Jews are impossible, Conciliation Commission will offer means and excuse for Arabs to work out realistic settlement.

(c) Extreme Arab League attitude favoring continuing hostilities (Embreftel paragraph 3).

5. Burrows said next move re establishment British Consulate General to Tel Aviv (Embreftel paragraph 1) was up to PGI, which has so far not replied to McNeil approach Paris.³

Holmes

1. This telegram transmitted a copy of telegram 1812, December 8, from Praha, p. 1652.
2. Not printed.
3. Mr. I. J. Linton, an Israeli representative at London, told an Embassy officer on December 31 that the previous day he had informed Mr. McNeil that Israel was not interested in the establishment of the office unless the British Government would publicly announce de facto recognition of his government when the office opened. Mr. McNeil told Mr. Linton that he would present the matter to Mr. Bevin tat that he was not optimistic (telegram 5438, December 31, 5 p. m., from London, 867N.01/12–3148).