Forrestal Papers

Diary Entry for December 31, 1948, by the Secretary of Defense (Forrestal)

Cabinet—China—Palestine

Subject this morning at Cabinet was China.

[Here follow two paragraphs concerning China.]

Palestine:

Lovett said the Israeli troops had apparently invaded Egypt. Specifically, they were reported to have attacked an air field within the Egyptian border; that it was reported the British would notify us that the failure of the Israelis to withdraw promptly would automatically bring into operation the Anglo-Egyptian mutual defense pact.