Office of the Historian

501.BC/8–2147: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State

secret
us urgent
London, August 21, 1947—9 p. m.

4554. 1. Scott-Fox said tonight that Bevin and Foreign Office were satisfied with resolution and events re Egypt yesterday in SC until Cadogan reported that UN Secretary General had told him after debate that in Secretary General’s opinion Brazilian resolution means that Egyptian case will remain on SC agenda.

2. Since removal from SC agenda was one of Bevin’s main objectives, Bevin reacted “violently” when he heard of Secretary General’s opinion. He said that if case is left on agenda this contains implication that British Government is some way at fault and that he was not prepared to negotiate under duress. Moreover Bevin thought Egyptians would use continuance on agenda as weapon when negotiations are resumed.

3. Result of these strong feelings was urgent telegram to British Embassy Washington and to British Embassy in other friendly capitals instructing them to seek last minute support for some change to resolution which would make it clear that ease will not remain on agenda.

4. Egyptian Department officials at 8 p. m. were waiting for Bevin to emerge from Cabinet meeting in order to get his approval of a telegram to Cadogan instructing him as a last resort to accept resolution as it stands and after the voting to make the observation that in British opinion under rule of procedure No. 10 the resolution means that matter has been removed from SC agenda. Scott-Fox said that UN department Foreign Office feels that it is on strong ground in taking this line. If any country disagrees it can challenge the British opinion and application of rule 10 can be decided.

5. Scott-Fox said that “USG may feel we are being tiresome about this, but I assure you that Mr. Bevin’s personal feelings are deeply involved.” Embassy gathered that Foreign Office officials do not feel [Page 799] as strongly as Foreign Secretary re removal of case from agenda. Draft telegram mentioned paragraph 4 is result of their efforts to find compromise which Bevin will accept. Officials are still uncertain whether he will sign it.1

Department please repeat USUN.

Douglas
  1. Telegram 4558, August 22, 1 p. m., from London reported that Mr. Bevin signed the telegram under reference, and it was despatched on the night of August 21 (501.BC/8–2247). Officers of the British Embassy, on August 21, made representations to the Department on the question of removing the Egyptian case from the Security Council agenda. They were informed of the United States position along the lines of the penultimate paragraph of telegram 361, August 19, p. 796. The Department notified the U.S. Mission at the United Nations in telegram 371, August 22, that its “primary objective is securing adoption of Brazilian or similar resolution. If in your opinion support for Brit position re continuing list would not jeopardize such adoption, Dept feels it advisable that you support Brit position. Initiative should be left to Brit in this matter, as Dept believes they are over-emphasizing importance of this point.” (501.BC/8–2247)

    Ambassador Johnson, in his remarks before the Security Council on August 28, stated: “I must state quite frankly that I do not understand why the delegation of the United Kingdom attaches such enormous importance to having this matter dropped from the agenda.… I shall vote for the Brazilian resolution in the belief and understanding and hope that subparagraph 3(b) means that the Security Council remains seized of this question.” (SC, 2nd yr., No. 86, pp. 2296–2297)

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