DEPARTMENT OF STATE THE SECRETARY
March 28, 1949
The Secretary telephoned Clark Clifford at the White House to say that we had been running into some trouble on the Palestine question. He said that the Jews after their military successes were getting pretty "tough." Our cables indicated that the Jews were claiming all the territory given them by the UN plus additional amounts. The Secretary said he thought they would go ahead with these additional claims unless strong pressures were brought to bear.
The Secretary said that those interested in the problem from an international viewpoint favored bringing pressure to bear, but he was wondering what the domestic angle was.
Mr. Clifford then proceeded to review for the Secretary, for background, just what had happened.
He said that the Zionists were elated at the support the White House gave to the resolution of November 1947 in the General Assembly. Shortly thereafter, General Marshall saw fit to change partition to trusteeship which set them back very badly. The White House got that straightened out. The resolution of 1948 threw them back a great deal and again the White House came to the rescue.
Clifford said that at the time he was in contact with the leaders last September, he made our position very clear - that we would continue to support them so long as they stood by the November '47 resolution. If they wanted anything beyond that, they would have to get it by friendly dealing and negotiation with the Arabs.
When the situation darkened in December or January at the time the British planes were shot down, Clifford said he again reiterated our position and they agreed this was all right.
Clifford said he did not know whether it was up to us to contest any claim they have. He said it seemed perhaps beyond what we would do at this time. Clifford thought it might be enough to say they would get no particular support from us beyond our stated position - beyond that they ran the risk of alienating our support. To step in and exert pressures did not appeal to Clifford. He believes that when the Jews are confronted with the possibility of losing our support they will think the matter over pretty carefully.
The Secretary said that we would go into the matter further here in the Department.
S:ma