Palestine question/Future government – GA First Cttee – Report

FIRST COMMITTEE

FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF PALESTINE

REPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE 9

RAPPORTEUR: Mr. FINN MOE (NORWAY)

1. The Sub-Committee was appointed at the 137th meeting of the First Committee held on 4 May 1948 and was composed of the Officers of the First Committee and of the representatives of Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Guatemala, France, India, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America.

The terms of reference of the Sub-Committee are contained in document A/C.1/292.

2. The Sub-Committee met informally on 4 May 1948 and elected the Officers of the First Committee to serve as Officers of the Sub-Committee.  The first (formal) meeting of the Sub-Committee was held on 5 May 1948 during which it was decided by a vote of eight in favour, three against (Guatemala, Poland and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and the Chairman abstaining, that the meetings should be held in private, and that at the end of the Committee meetings the Press Officer of the United Nations would issue a full press communique approved by the Vice-Chairman and the Rapporteur.  

3. The Sub-Committee has held eleven meetings, in the course of which a number of working papers and proposals have been submitted.  The major suggestions or proposals have been submitted by the delegation of France (A/C.1/SC.9/W.1), the Rapporteur (A/C.1/SC.9/W.5), the United States (A/C.1/SC.9/1), and Poland (A/C.1/SC.9/W.13 and A/C.1/SC.9/2).

4. The Sub-Committee sought the assistance, in its work, of the Chairman of the Palestine Commission, the representative of the Mandatory Power and Mr. P. Ascarate.

5. The working paper prepared by the Rapporteur was submitted to the representative of the Arab Higher Committee and the representative of the Jewish Agency, who stated their attitudes with regard to it.

6. The proposal of the United States’ delegation (document A/C.1/SC.9/1) was submitted to the Sub-Committee had no opportunity to examine the financial implications of that proposal.

7. The United States Draft Resolution was voted upon paragraph by paragraph with the following results:

(a) The Preamble, as amended, was adopted by eleven votes in favour and one abstention.

(b) The Polish amendment to the first paragraph was rejected by six votes against, one in favour and five abstentions.

(c) The first paragraph was adopted by nine votes in favour and two abstentions.

(d) The Polish amendment to Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 1 was rejected by eight votes against, with two in favour and two abstentions.

(e) An amendment to Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 1, replacing the world “Commissioner” with the word “Mediator,” was adopted by four votes in favour, three against and four abstentions.

(f) Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 1, as amended was adopted by eight votes in favour, one against and two abstentions.

(g) The Polish amendment to Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 1 (a) was rejected by five votes against, two in favour and five abstentions.

(h) Paragraph 2, Sub-paragraph 1 (a) was adopted by ten votes in favour and two abstentions.

(i) Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 1 (a) (1) was adopted by ten votes in favour, one against and one abstention.

(j) Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 1 (a) (2) was adopted by eleven votes in favour and one abstention.

(k) Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 1 (a) (3) as amended, was adopted by seven votes in favour and five abstentions.

(l) Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 1 (b) was adopted by ten votes in favour and two abstentions.

(m) The Polish-Norwegian amendment to Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 1 (c), adding after the word “advisable,” a phrase “and in agreement with the Jewish and Arab authorities, or one of them,” was rejected by four votes in favour, four against and four abstentions.

(n) Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 1(c) was adopted by ten votes in favour with two abstentions.

(o) The Polish amendment to Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 2 was rejected by seven votes against, one vote in favour and four abstentions.

(p) Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 2 was adopted by ten votes in favour and two abstentions.

(q) Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 3, was adopted by ten votes in favour, with two abstentions.

(r) Paragraph II, Sub-paragraph 4 was adopted by eight votes in favour, two against and two abstentions.

(s) An amendment to Paragraph III replacing the word “Discharges” by the word “Suspends,” was adopted by six votes in favour, five against and one abstention.

(t) An amendment to Paragraph III, replacing the words “as of this date” by “as of a date which the Secretary-General deems appropriate” was rejected by six votes in favour and six votes against.

(u) Paragraph III as amended, was adopted by six votes in favour, one against and four abstentions.

It was the general agreement in the Sub-Committee that while recommending to the First Committee the adoption of the following resolution this resolution does not in any way prejudice the rights and legal position of the parties concerned:

RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT THE ELEVENTH MEETING OF

SUB-COMMITTEE 9, HELD ON 13 MAY 1948

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Taking Account of the present situation in regard to Palestine,

I

Strongly affirms its support of the efforts of the Security Council to secure a truce in Palestine and calls upon al governments organizations and persons to co-operate in making effective such a truce.

II

1. Empowers a United Nations Mediator in Palestine, to be chosen by a committee of the General Assembly composed of representatives of China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom and the United States, to exercise the following functions:

(a) to use his good offices with the local and community authorities in Palestine:

(1) arrange for the operation of common services necessary to the safety and well being of the population of Palestine;

(2) assure the protection of the Holy Places, religious buildings and sites in Palestine;

(3) promote a peaceful adjustment of the situation in Palestine.

(b) to co-operate with the Truce Commission for Palestine appointed by the Security Council in its Resolution of 23 April 1948.

(c) to invite, as seems to him advisable, with a view to the promotion of the welfare of the inhabitants of Palestine, the assistance and co-operation of appropriate Specialized Agencies of the United Nations such as the World Health Organization, of the International Red Cross, and of other governmental or non-governmental organizations of a humanitarian and non-political character.

2. Instructs the United Nations Mediator to render progress reports monthly, or more frequently as he deems necessary, to the Security Council and to the Secretary-General for transmission to the Members of the United Nations.

3. Directs the United Nations Mediator to conform in his activities with the provisions of this resolution, and with such instructions as the Security Council may issue.

4. Authorizes the Secretary-General to pay the United Nations Mediator an emolument equal to that paid to the President of the International Court of Justice, and to provide the Mediator with the necessary staff to assist in carrying out the functions assigned to the Mediator by the General Assembly.

III

Suspends, as of 1 June 1948, the Palestine Commission from the further exercise of responsibilities under its Resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947.