LONDON - The British Cabinet in 1949 argued about whether government policy in the Middle East would foment Arab nationalism and unrest, according to documents released Friday.

A year earlier, the last British troops had withdrawn from Palestine, which had been administered under a United Nations mandate since 1920, and David Ben-Gurion had proclaimed the formation of the state of Israel.

The Cabinet discussion of January 24, 1949, came five days before Britain formally recognized the new state.

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Ernest Bevin, foreign secretary in Prime Minister Clement Attlee's Labour Party government, expressed misgivings about the future, according to short notes taken by a secretary.

"Also want to avoid cross purposes with Pakistan. The two ends of Muslim world Turkey and Pakistan are very important. Which way will they lead the Muslim world? We may be sowing seeds today," the notes record Bevin as saying.

"Believe in Muslim revival. Can't assume it will be friendly whatever we may do," the notes also record him as saying.

Health Secretary Aneurin Bevan commented that Britain's problem was "to extricate ourselves with least damage."

"I have no confidence in Iraq etc. Pouring money down drain," the notes record Bevan saying. "If we have to secure our oil, we may have to act, but not by buttressing Arab States."

At the Cabinet meeting a week earlier, Attlee complained of difficulties in dealing with the United States on the issue.

"Trouble all thro': couldn't get U.S. to stand by anything," the notes record the prime minister as saying. He complains that proposals on various subject were "deserted" by U.S. President Harry Truman.

At another point in the meeting, Bevin complained that it was "impossible to get settlement with U.S. - and impossible to solve without them."