Shertok/Sharett Lying

I pointed out the unfortunate consequences which might follow if further illegal immigration into Palestine were to take place at this time and was assured by Mr. Shertok that the Jewish Agency would take all steps in its power to prevent such illegal immigration

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Henderson)Washington, December 8, 1947.secret

---

Participants:	Mr. Moshe Shertok—Jewish Agency
	Mr. Eliahu Epstein—Jewish Agency
	Mr. Henderson—NEA

By the way, Henderson opposed partition:

FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES 1947VOLUME V, THE NEAR EAST AND AFRICA [DOCUMENT 874]
867N.01/11–2447
[Document 874]
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Henderson) to the Under Secretary of State (Lovett)
[Washington,] November 24, 1947.
top secret

...I feel it again to be my duty to point out that it seems to me and all the members of my Office acquainted with the Middle East that the policy which we are following in New York at the present time is contrary to the interests of the United States and will eventually involve us in international difficulties of so grave a character that the reaction throughout the world, as well as in this country, will be very strong.

We are committed to the idea that the security of the Middle East is vital to the United States. We also agree that unless the British continue to remain a force in the Middle East, the security of the Middle East will be gravely endangered. It is impossible for the British to remain a force in the Middle East unless they retain the friendship of the Arab world. By our Palestine policy, we are not only forfeiting the friendship of the Arab world, but we are incurring long-term Arab hostility towards us. What is important is that the Arabs are losing confidence in the integrity of the United States and the sincerity of our many pronouncements that our foreign policies are based on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations...

I wonder if the President realizes that the plan which we are supporting for Palestine leaves no force other than local law enforcement organizations for preserving order in Palestine. It is quite clear that there will be wide-scale violence in that country, both from the Jewish and Arab sides with which the local authorities will not be able to cope. It is my understanding that Mr. Johnson, on Saturday, indicated before the Subcommittee that if the situation in Palestine should develop into a menace to peace, the matter would naturally come before the Security Council and that the United States, along with the other four Great Powers, would be prepared to share responsibility for removing this menace. Our plan envisages apparently the despatch of American, Soviet and perhaps other troops to Palestine in order to preserve law and order. It seems to me that we ought to think twice before we support any plan which would result in American troops going to Palestine. The fact that Soviet troops under our plan would be introduced into the heart of the Middle East is even more serious. I know that you have so many problems facing you that you cannot keep informed regarding the details of all of them, and I am sending you this memorandum in order to make sure that you realize the direction in which we are headed.