UN Mediator progress report – Report of the GA First Committee

PALESTINE: PROGRESS REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS MEDIATOR

Report of the First Committee

Rapporteur: Mr. Selim SAPPER (Turkey)

1.  The Secretary-General, pursuant to the wish of the late Count Bernadotte, expressed in a letter dated 16 September 1948 (A/647), requested on 21 September 1948 (A/BUR/102) that the agenda for the third regular session should include the item, "Progress Report of the United Nations Mediator on Palestine" (A/648, A/689 and A/689/Add.l).

2.  The General Assembly, on the recommendation of the General Committee, referred this question, at its 142nd plenary meeting held on 24 September 1948, to the First Committee for consideration and report.

3.  The consideration of this item was begun at the l6lst meeting of the Committee during which Mr. Ralph Bunche, Acting Mediator on Palestine, was invited to sit with the Officers of the Committee for the duration of the consideration of the question by the Committee.  At the same meeting, the Committee decided that Transjordan, in accordance with its request (A/C.1/327), be admitted, as an observer without the right to vote, to the debates of the Committee.  The request of the Provisional Government of Israel (A/C.1/331) was likewise approved, and its representative was admitted to the debates on the same basis as the representative of Transjordan.

4.  After considerable discussion regarding a letter from the Arab Higher Committee (A/C.1/335) and a telegram from the Foreign Secretary of the All-Palestine Government (A/C.1/339), the Committee decided, at its 200th meeting, to grant a hearing to the Arab Higher Committee to express the views of the Arabs of Palestine during the debate, without, however, making any allusion to the second paragraph of the letter of the Arab Higher Committee regarding its credentials, or expressing any view on the affirmation of the Arab Higher Committee on its dual representation.

5.  The discussion of the Progress Report was initiated by an oral statement made by the Acting Mediator at the l6lst meeting of the Committee. At the l66th meeting the Committee decided, on the motion of the representative of Cuba, to afford priority to the Mexican draft resolution regarding an appeal to the Great Powers (A.662/Rev.l) and to adjourn the debate on the Palestine question.  At the l69th meeting, on the motion of the representative of Iran, the consideration of the Palestine question was adjourned further, for a period of one week.

6.  On 15 October 1948, the representative of Lebanon submitted a draft resolution (A/C.1/332) proposing that the consideration of the Mediator's report should be preceded by an examination of the circumstances of the assassination of the late Mediator.  Some discussion took place regarding this draft resolution, but it was not voted upon by the Committee.

7.  The general debate on the Progress Report was resumed on 16 November 1948 at the 200th meeting, when the representative of the Provisional Government of Israel made a statement subjecting the report to a critical analysis and rejecting the main conclusions contained therein.  The representative of the Arab Higher Committee made his statement at the 201st meeting, and initial statements were made at subsequent meetings by the representatives of all the other Arab States, who found both the recommendations of 29 November 1947 and the conclusions of the Mediator equally unacceptable.

8.  The representative of the United Kingdom, outlined the position of his delegation at the 203rd meeting and submitted, on 18 November 1948, a draft resolution (A/C.1/394) endorsing the conclusions of the late Mediator contained in the Progress Report, and establishing a Conciliation Commission to assist the parties to, arrive at a settlement based on those conclusions.

The, representative of the United States of America made a preliminary statement at the 205th meeting supporting the general principles of the seven basic premises stated in Mediator's report in an effort to arrive at a settlement of the Palestine question.  He proposed different terms of reference for the Conciliation Commission, and emphasized the principle of consent with respect to territorial questions.  Subsequently, he submitted a number of amendments (A/C.1/397) to the United Kingdom draft resolution.

9.  The representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, in his statement made at the 206th meeting, considered the proposals contained in the Mediator's report as contrary to the resolution of the General Assembly of 29 November 1947, and urged, for the sake of a speedy settlement in Palestine, a complete implementation of that resolution.  He submitted a draft resolution (A/C.l/4Ol) recommending the immediate removal from Palestine of all foreign troops and foreign military personnel.

At the 208th meeting, the representative of Australia made a statement and submitted a draft resolution (A/C.1/396) expressing, inter alia, the view that the basic starting point of a settlement of the Palestine question should be the resolution of 29 November 1947, and accordingly including all aspects of the question within the terms of reference for the Conciliation Commission.

The representative of Poland submitted a draft resolution (A/C.1/400 and A/C.1/400/Corr.l) affirming the resolution of 29 November 1947 as the basis for the final settlement of the Palestine question and instructing the Conciliation Commission in that regard.

The representative of Colombia made a statement at the 209th meeting, and subsequently submitted a draft resolution (A/C.1/399) which attempted to reconcile the various views contained in some of the draft resolutions and amendments.

10. The representative of Syria submitted a draft resolution (A/C.1/402) in which it was provided, inter alia, that a Commission should study and prepare proposals for the establishment of a single State in Palestine on a cantonal or federal basis.

11. At the conclusion of the general debate at the 213th meeting, a discussion ensued regarding the method of procedure for the future work of the Committee. After a lengthy debate, the Committee decided at its 214th meeting, on the proposal of the Canadian representative, to appoint a Working Group composed of the authors of the various draft resolutions and amendments, under the chairmanship of Mr. Selim Sarper, Rapporteur of the First Committee, in order to prepare a consolidated tabulation of the various tests presented.

12. The Working Group submitted this consolidated tabulation (A/C.1/403) at the 215th meeting.  On the proposal of the representative of Canada, the Committee agreed to begin its discussion on the tabulation with section II, concerning the withdrawal of troops from Palestine,  and subsequently it also decided, on the proposal of the representative of Sweden, to postpone the vote on this section until the end of the discussion on the remaining sections of the tabulation.  The consideration of the consolidated tabulation was concluded at the 220th meeting.

13. The Committee then decided to proceed with a detailed examination of the United Kingdom draft resolution and the amendments submitted thereto.  At the 212th meeting, the representative of the United Kingdom had submitted a revised draft resolution (A/C.1/394/Rev.l) stating that his delegation had amended it in the light of the debate which had taken place in the Committee.  He stated his willingness to accept additional amendments to the revised text, provided that the underlying principles remained unchanged.

14. The representative of the United States of America made a second statement at the 214th meeting, and observed that any decision which still remained between the revised draft resolution of the United Kingdom, and the position of his delegation related solely to the measures for the attainment of the objectives upon which a general agreement existed.  He maintained the position of his delegation regarding paragraph 2, paragraph 4(b) and paragraph 10 of the revised draft resolution, and submitted amendments (A/C.l/397/Rev.l) to these paragraphs.

15.  At the 215th meeting, the representative of the United Kingdom submitted a second revision of his draft resolution (A/C.l/394/Rev.2), which eliminated the paragraph endorsing the specific conclusions of the Mediator's report and provided for certain consequential changes.  The terms of reference of the Conciliation Commission took into account both the resolution of the General Assembly of 29 November 1947 and the conclusions of the Mediator's report.  This revised draft was accepted by the representative of the United States, who withdrew his previous amendment, considering that the final United Kingdom, text achieved the desired balance and was adequate to achieve the desired objective.

16.  At the 220th meeting, the representative of Syria requested that the Committee should afford priority to a draft resolution (A/C.1/405) submitted by his delegation requesting the International Court of Justice to give a legal opinion concerning the powers of the General Assembly on this question, and the international status of Palestine: upon the termination of the mandate.  This request was rejected by a vote of 20 against, 20 in favour, with 8 abstentions.

17.  After the delegation of the United States of America had accepted the second revision of the United Kingdom draft resolution and withdrawn its amendment, the representative of Guatemala submitted a revised text of his amendments (A/C.1/396/Rev.2) to that draft resolution embodying the content of a series of sub-amendments which he had previously submitted to the United States amendments to the draft resolution of the United Kingdom (A/C.1/398 and A/C.l/396/Rev.l).  Similarly, the representative of Australia submitted the essential parts of his draft resolution (A/C.1/396) as an amendment (A/C.l/408) to the second revised draft resolution of the United Kingdom.

The representative of Poland submitted a series of amendments to the Australian amendment (A/C.1/409 and A/C.l/409/Rev.l).

18. The Australian representative, at the 220th meeting, proposed the establishment of a drafting sub-committee (A/C.1/407) to attempt to reconcile the various proposals into a single text and, wherever this was not possible, to indicate where agreement was not reached.  The proposal was rejected by l6 votes to 15, with 17 abstentions.

19. The Committee then proceeded to a vote upon the second revision of the United Kingdom, draft resolution (A/C.l/394/Rev.2) and amendments thereto with the following results:

(a) The Syrian amendment (A/C.l/4O4) to the preamble was rejected by 21 votes to 12, with 10 abstentions.

(b) The first paragraph of the preamble was adopted by 24 votes to 10, with 9 abstentions.

(c) The second paragraph of the preamble was adopted by 21 votes to 12, with 13 abstentions.

(d) The Syrian amendment (A/C.1/404) to the third paragraph of the preamble was rejected by 21 votes to 12, with 11 abstentions.

(e) The, third paragraph of the preamble was adopted by 21 votes to 22 with 7 abstentions.

(f) The fourth paragraph of the preamble was adopted by 22 votes to 10, with 14 abstentions.

(g) The first paragraph of the second revised draft resolution was adopted by 29 votes to none, with 20 abstentions.

(The representative of Australia withdrew his amendment 1(6), contained in document A/C.1/408/Rev.1 concerning the application of the State of Israel for admission to the United Nations, but reserved his right to return to this question if the Security Council, which was dealing with the application, was not successful in its work).

(h) The Australian amendment 1(2) (A/C.l/408/Rev.l) to the second revised draft resolution was rejected by 25 votes to 12, with 12 abstentions.

(i) The Polish amendment (A/C/409/Rev.l) to the Australian amendment 1(3) was rejected by 29 votes to 8, with 8 abstentions.

(j) The Australian amendment 1(3) to the second revised draft resolution was rejected by 25 votes to 4, with 20 abstentions.

(k) The Australian amendment 1(4) was rejected by 25 votes to 11, with 13 abstentions.

(l) The Australian amendment 1(5) was rejected by 24 votes to 12, with 13 abstentions.

(m) The Australian amendment (A/C.l/408/Rev.l) to the first part of paragraph 2 of the second revised draft resolution was rejected by 31 to 10, with 9 abstentions.

(n) The Guatemalan amendment (A/C.l/398/Rev.2) to the first part of the second paragraph of the second revised draft resolution was rejected by 34 votes to 5, with 11 abstentions.

(O) The Syrian amendment (A/C.1/410) to the first part of the second paragraph of the second revised draft resolution was rejected by 24 vote to 11, with l4 abstentions.

(p) The first part of the second paragraph of the second revised draft resolution was adopted by 25 votes to 16, with 11 abstentions.

(q) The Polish amendment (A/C.l/409/Rev.l) to the second part of the Australian amendment (A/C.l/408/Rev.1) (II(1) was rejected by 35 votes 6, with 11 abstentions.   (The representative of Australia accepted the first part of the Polish amended it).

(r) The Australian amendment (A/C.l/408/Rev.l) 11(1), as amended in its first part by the Polish amendment, was rejected by 32 votes to 12, with 8 abstentions.

(s) Paragraph 2(a) of the second revised draft resolution was adopted by 26 votes to 15, with 11 abstentions.

(t) The Polish amendment (A/C.l/409/Rev.l) to the Australian amendment (A/C.l/408/Rev.l) 11(2) was rejected by 32 votes to 8, with 12 abstentions.

(u) The Australian amendment (A/C.l/408/Rev.l) II(2) was accepted by the representative of the United Kingdom and adopted by 28 votes to 15, with 8 abstentions.

(v) The Polish amendment (A/C.l/409/Rev.l) to the Australian amendment (A/C.l/408/Rev.l) 11(3) was rejected by 36 votes to 6, with 12 abstentions.

(w) The Australian amendment (A/C.l/408/Rev.l) 11(3) was rejected by 33 votes, to 7, with 11 abstentions.

(x) Paragraph 2(b) of the second, revised draft resolution was adopted by 27 votes to 19 against, with 5 abstentions.

(y) The Polish amendment (A/C.l/409/Rev.l) to the Australian amendment (A/C.l/408/Rev.l) 11(4) was rejected by 35 votes to 5, with 13 abstentions

(z) The Australian amendment (A/C.l/408/Rev.l) II(4) was rejected by 29 votes to 9, with 13 abstentions.

(aa) The Guatemalan amendment (A/C.1/398/Rev.2) to paragraph 2(c) of the second revised draft resolution was rejected by 30 votes to 5, with 17 abstentions.

(bb) The Syrian amendment (A/C.l/406) to paragraph 2(c) of the second revised draft resolution was rejected by 18 votes to 14, with 17 abstentions.

(cc) Paragraph 2(c) of the second revised draft resolution was rejected by 23 against, 23 in favour, with 5 abstentions.

(dd) The Australian amendment (A/C.l/408/Rev.l) 11(5) to paragraph 2(d) of the second revised draft resolution was rejected by 23 votes to 12, with 10 abstentions.

(ee) Paragraph 2(d) of the second revised draft resolution was adopted by 26 votes to 18, with 7 abstentions.

(ff) The last part of the Australian amendment (A/C.l/4O8/Rev.l) II(5) was accepted by the United Kingdom and adopted by 33 votes to 9, With 13 abstentions.

(gg) Paragraph 3 of the second revised draft resolution was adopted by 29 votes to 11, with 14 abstentions.

(The Australian amendments (A/C.l/4O8/Rev.l III, IV, V, were withdrawn).

(hh) The Guatemalan amendment (A/C.1/398/Rev.2) to the first port of the fourth paragraph of the second revised draft resolution was rejected by 36 votes to 11, with 9 abstentions.

20. In view of the rejection of paragraph 2(c) of the second revised draft resolution, the representative of New Zealand submitted an amendment (A/C.1/413), consisting of the first part of paragraph 2(c), in place of the rejected text.  The representative of the United Kingdom submitted an amendment (A/C.1/414) to the New Zealand amendment by-re-submitting the second part of the original United Kingdom, text of paragraph 2(c).

After some discussion, the representative of the United States of America moved, under rule 112 of the rules of procedure that the Committee should reconsider its vote regarding paragraph 2(c) of the second revised draft resolution of the United Kingdom (A/C.l/394/Rev.2).  This motion was rejected by 27 votes to 17, with 8 abstentions, having failed to obtain the-required two-thirds majority.

(a) Paragraph 4 of the second revised draft resolution, from which the words "in pursuance of paragraph 2(c)" had first been deleted, was rejected by 25 votes to 22, with 5 abstentions.

21. At the 224th meeting, the representative of Australia submitted a draft resolution (A/C.1/415) for the appointment of a sub-committee to draft the terms of reference of the proposed Conciliation Commission for Palestine. This proposal was rejected by 39 votes to 7, with 4 abstentions.

At the same meeting, the representative of the United States of America submitted an amendment (A/C.l/4l6), to be added after paragraph 3, which provided that the Conciliation Commission should be instructed to assist the Governments and authorities concerned to achieve a final settlement of all questions outstanding between them.  This amendment, with an addition proposed by the representative of Canada, inserting the words "to take steps to" before the word “assist", (accepted by the United States) was adopted by 42 votes to 2, with 12 abstentions.

22.  (a) Paragraph 5 of the second revised draft resolution was rejected by 26 votes to 18, with 12 abstentions.

(b) Paragraph 6 of the second revised draft resolution was adopted by 34 votes to 5, with 14 abstentions.  (A verbal amendment submitted by the representative of El Salvador to insert after the word "Jerusalem" the word "Nazareth" was rejected by 15 votes to l4, with 22 abstentions).

(c) The Colombian amendment (A/C.l/4l2) and the French amendment (A/C.1/417) to paragraph. 7 of the second revised draft resolution were accepted by the representative of the United Kingdom in place of paragraph 7.  The first part of the Colombian amendment was adopted by 34 votes to 5 with 12 abstentions.  The French amendment was adopted by 36 votes to 2, with 14 abstentions.  The second part of the Colombian amendment was adopted by 34 votes to 5, with 12 abstentions.

(d) The Guatemalan amendment (A/C.l/4l8) to paragraph 8 of the second revised draft resolution was rejected by 18 votes to 8, with 24 abstentions.

(e) Paragraph 8 of the second revised draft resolution, with the substitution of the words "the freest possible access" for "unimpeded access" was adopted by 24 votes to none, with 29 abstentions.

(f) The first part of paragraph 9 of the second revised draft resolution as adopted by 24 votes to 5, with 15 abstentions. The second part of paragraph 9 was adopted by 19 votes to 17, with 7 abstentions.

(g) Paragraph 10 of the second revised draft resolution, with the words "in accordance with this resolution" deleted, was rejected by 28 votes to 16, with 5 abstentions.

(h) The Guatemalan amendment (A/C. 1/398/Rev.2) to paragraph 11 of the second revised draft resolution was rejected by 37 votes to 7, with 5 abstentions.  (The Australian amendment (A/C.l/4l9) to the third sub-paragraph of paragraph 11 was withdrawn).

(i) Paragraph 11 of the second revised draft resolution, with the substitution of the words "earliest practicable date" for "earliest possible date", and the following,words added at the end "and through him with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations", was adopted by 29 votes to 6, with 13 abstentions.

(j) Paragraph 12 of the second revised draft resolution was adopted by 29 votes to 6, with 10 abstentions.  The French amendment to paragraph 12 (A/C.l/4ll), which was accepted by the United Kingdom, was adopted by 28 votes to 5, with 16 abstentions.

(k) Paragraph 13 of the second revised draft resolution was adopted by 27 votes to 6, with 18 abstentions.

(1) Paragraph 14 of the second revised draft resolution was adopted by 31 votes to 11, with 9 abstentions.

(m) Paragraph 15 of the second revised draft resolution was adopted by 29 votes to 13, with 9 abstentions,

23. At the end of the 226th meeting, the representative of Canada submitted an amendment (A/C.1/420) to be added as 2 final paragraph to the resolution, which provided for the method to be followed in appointing the members of the Conciliation Commission.  At the 227th meeting, two sub-amendments (A/C.1/421 and A/C.1/422) to the Canadian amendment were submitted by the representative of Syria.

(a) The first Syrian amendment to the Canadian amendment was rejected by 31 votes to 14, with 9 abstentions.

(b) The second Syrian amendment to the Canadian amendment was rejected by 25 votes to l6, with 12 abstentions.

(c) The Canadian amendment (A/C.1/420) was adopted by 24 votes to 21, with 8 abstentions, and it was decided that it was to be inserted between paragraphs 2 and 3.

24. Before the vote was taken on the whole second revised draft resolution of the United Kingdom, as amended, the representative of Egypt proposed that the Syrian resolution (A/C.1/402) be voted upon first. The Egyptian motion was rejected by 23 votes to 15, with 16 abstentions.

The second revised draft resolution of the United Kingdom, as amended, was voted upon as a whole at the 227th meeting, by roll-call, and was adopted by 25 votes to 21, with 9 abstentions:

In favour:   Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Sweden, Union of South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America;

Against:  Afghanistan, Burma, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Yemen, Yugoslavia; Bolivia, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Liberia, Mexico, Philippines, Slam, Venezuela.

25. At the 228th meeting, the representatives of Australia, Colombia and Poland stated that there was no need to submit their draft resolutions (A/C.1/396, A/C.1/399, A/C.1/400, A/C.l/400/Corr.l respectively) to a vote.

26. The draft resolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (A/C.1/401) providing for the withdrawal of foreign troops and foreign military personnel from Palestine was rejected by 33 votes to 7, with 8 abstentions.

27. The Syrian draft resolution (A/C.1/402) providing for a Commission to prepare proposals for a cantonal or federal State was rejected by 26 votes to l4, with 8 abstentions.

28. The Syrian draft resolution (A/C.1/405) providing for a request to the International Court of Justice for a legal opinion on the power of the General Assembly relating to this question and the status of Palestine upon the termination of the mandate, was rejected by a vote of 21 against, 21 in favour, with 4 abstentions.  (The Syrian representative accepted the amendment submitted by the representative of El Salvador (A/C.1/425) replacing the words "for the creation of a Jewish sovereign State, against the wishes of the majority of the Palestine population;" by the following "without first obtaining the consent of the majority of the Palestine population").

29. The First Committee therefore recommends the adoption by the General Assembly of the following resolution:

PALESTINE :  PROGRESS REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS MEDIATOR

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

HAVING ADOPTED, on 29 November 1947, resolution 181 (II) regarding the future government of Palestine and providing a plan for partition with economic union,

HAVING ADOPTED, on 14 May 1948, resolution 186 (S-2) empowering a United Nations Mediator in Palestine to exercise certain functions including the use of his good offices to promote a peaceful adjustment of the future situation of Palestine,

HAVING RECEIVED AND EXAMINED the Progress Report of the United Nations Mediator on Palestine (A/648) submitted by the late Count Folke Bernadotte ,

HAVING TAKEN NOTE of the resolutions of the Security Council concerning the truce in Palestine and of the resolution of 16 November concerning the establishment of an armistice by means of negotiations conducted either directly or through the Acting Mediator on Palestine,

1.  EXPRESSES its deep appreciation of the progress achieved through the good offices of the late United Nations Mediator in promoting a peaceful adjustment of the future situation of Palestine, for which cause he sacrificed his life; and

EXTENDS its thanks to the Acting Mediator and his staff for their continued efforts and devotion to duty in Palestine;

2.  ESTABLISHES a Conciliation Commission consisting of three States Members of the United Nations which shall have the following functions:

(a) To assume, in so far as it considers necessary in existing circumstances, the functions given to the United Nations Mediator on Palestine by the resolution of the General Assembly of 14 May 1948;

(b) To carry out the specific functions and directives given to it by the present resolution and such additional functions and directives as may be given to it by the General Assembly or by the Security Council;

(c) To promote good relations between the State of Israel, the Arabs of Palestine and the neighbouring Arab States;

(d)  To undertake, upon the request of the Security Council any of the functions now assigned to the United Nations Mediator on Palestine or to the United Nations Truce Commission by resolutions of the Security Council; upon such request to the Conciliation Commission by the Security Council with respect to all the remaining functions of the United Nations Mediator on Palestine under Security Council resolutions, the office of the Mediator shall be terminated;

3.  DECIDES that the three States Members of the Conciliation Commission shall be chosen by a committee of the Assembly consisting of the representatives of China, France, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom and United States of America;

4.  REQUESTS the Commission to begin its functions at once, with a view to the establishment of contact between the parties themselves, and the Commission at the earliest possible date;

5.  CALLS upon the Governments and authorities concerned to extend the scope of the negotiations provided for in the Security Council's resolution of 16 November 1948 and to seek agreement by negotiations conducted either through the Conciliation Commission or directly with a view to a final settlement of all questions outstanding between them;

6. INSTRUCTS the Conciliation Commission to take steps to assist the Governments and authorities concerned to achieve a final settlement of all questions outstanding between them;

7.  RESOLVES that the Holy Places, religious buildings and sites in Palestine should be protected and free access to them assured, in accordance with existing rights and historical practice; that arrangements to this end should be under effective United Nations supervision;  that the United Nations Conciliation Commission, in presenting to the fourth regular session of the General Assembly its detailed proposal for a permanent international regime for the territory of Jerusalem should include recommendations concerning the Holy Places in that territory; that with regard to the Holy Places in the rest of Palestine the Commission should call upon the political authorities of the areas concerned to give appropriate formal guarantees as to the protection of the Holy Places and access to them; and that these undertakings should be presented to the General Assembly for approval;

8.  RESOLVES that, in view of its association with three world religions, the Jerusalem area, as defined in the General Assembly resolution of 29 November 1947  should be accorded special and separate treatment from the rest of Palestine and should be placed under effective United Nations control;

REQUESTS the Security Council to take further steps to ensure the demilitarization of Jerusalem at the earliest possible date;

INSTRUCTS the Conciliation Commission to present to the fourth regular session of the General Assembly detailed proposals for a permanent international regime for the Jerusalem area which will provide for the maximum local autonomy for distinctive groups consistent with the special international status of the Jerusalem area;

The Conciliation Commission is authorized to appoint a United Nations representative who shall co-operate with the local authorities with respect to the interim administration of the Jerusalem area;

9.  RESOLVES that, pending agreement on more detailed arrangements among the Governments and authorities concerned, the freest possible access to Jerusalem by road, rail or air should be accorded to all inhabitants of Palestine;

INSTRUCTS the Conciliation Commission to report immediately to the Security Council, for appropriate action by that organ, any attempt by any party to impede such access.

10. INSTRUCTS the Conciliation Commission to seek arrangements among the Governments and authorities concerned which will facilitate the economic development of the area, including arrangements for access to ports and airfields and the use of transportation and communication facilities;  in this connexion, the conclusions contained in Part One, section VIII, paragraph 4(e) and (f) of the Progress Report of the United Nations Mediator should be taken into account;

11. ENDORSES the conclusions stated in Part One, section VIII, paragraph 4(i) of the Progress Report of the United Nations Mediator in Palestine;

RESOLVES that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible;

INSTRUCTS the Conciliation Commission to facilitate the repatriation, resettlement and economic and social rehabilitation of the refugees and the payment of compensation, and to maintain close relations with the Director of the United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees and, through him, with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations;

12.  AUTHORIZES the Conciliation Commission to appoint such subsidiary bodies end to employ such technical experts, acting under its authority, as it may find necessary, for the effective discharge of its functions and responsibilities under the present resolution;

The Conciliation Commission will have its official headquarters at Jerusalem.  The authorities responsible for maintaining order in Jerusalem will be responsible for taking all measures necessary to ensure the security of the Commission.  The Secretary-General will provide a limited number of guards for the protection of the staff and premises of the Commission;

13. INSTRUCTS the Conciliation Commission to render progress reports periodically to the Secretary-General for transmission to the Security Council and to the members of the United Nations;

14. CALLS UPON all Governments and authorities concerned to co-operate with the Conciliation Commission and to take all possible steps to assist in the implementation of the present resolution;

15. REQUESTS the Secretary-General to provide the necessary staff and facilities and to make appropriate arrangements to provide the necessary funds required in carrying out the terms of the present resolution.

—–