Memorandum from President Harry S. Truman to the Under Secretary of State, with Attached Memorandum from David Niles

Kup this Confidential August 6, 1947 Personal Memorandum for: Under Secretary of State From: The President The following is taken from a memorandum which Dave Niles handed to me: "I understand that the key advisers on Palestine to the United States Delegation at the Fall Session will be Loy Henderson and George Wadsworth, Because both are widely regarded as unsympathetic to the Jewish viewpoint, much resentment will be engendered when their appointment is announced and later. More- over, on the basis of their past behaviour and attitudes, I frankly doubt that they will vigorously carry out your policy. But your administration, not they, will be held responsible. "It may not be feasible to oppose Henderson and Wadsworth as advisers to the Delegation. In any event, I believe it is most important that at least one of the advisers be a vigorous and well-informed individual in whom you, the members of the United States Delegation, and American Jewry have complete confidence. There is only one person I know who would fill the bill completely - General Hilldring. As you know, he is scheduled to leave his position as Assistant Secretary of State on the first of September. I respectfully recommend that you ask him as a matter of urgency to serve as an adviser to the United States Delegation to insure that your viewpoint is effectively e pressed." I think it has some merit. I talked to General Marshall about General Hilldring becoming a member of the Advisory Committee to the United States Delegation of the United Nations on Palestine. I think the General was impressed with the idea but since I didn't give him a memorandum, and he has so many things to think about, I am giving this to you. H.S.T.