Palestine question – Guards for Palestine Commission – Press release

UNITED NATIONS

Department of Public Information

Press and Publications Bureau

Lake Success, New York

Press Release PAL/422

26 January 1949

JEWS AND ARABS JOINTLY FURNISH GUARDS

FOR U.N. PALESTINE COMMISSION

Israelis and Transjordan soldiers of the Arab League have been assigned by their respective commanders to protect the United Nations Palestine Conciliation Commission in Jerusalem.

Under an agreement worked out through the U.N. observers in Jerusalem and signed by the local Israeli and Transjordan commanders each side is providing eleven soldiers to protect the persons of the Commission and their staff and to act as guards for Government  House, where the Commission meets.  Government House is in a neutral  zone, under an agreed neutrality, which, according to reports at U.N. Headquarters, has been carefully respected by both sides for the past few months.

The agreement providing for the furnishing of eleven Israeli soldiers was made by Colonel Moshe Dayan, commander of the Israeli military forces in the Jerusalem area and Colonel Abdullah el Tel, commander for the Transjordan forces.

The Israeli-Transjordan guard group is armed and will be under command of a United Nations military observer. The negotiations for the joint protective group were conducted through Col. Roger T. Carleson, of Great Neck, New York, who is the Senior U.N. Observer in the Jerusalem area.  Col. Carleson has acquired the nickname of the "Little Mediator" for his work in the Jerusalem sector.

The agreement by Israeli and Transjordan commanders to furnish soldiers from their respective commands is in keeping with the terms of the General Assembly resolution adopted in Paris 11 December 1948 which asked local authorities in Jerusalem to take all necessary steps to protect the Commission and members of the United Nations secretariat assisting the Commission.

The Assembly resolution also directed the Secretary-General to provide a limited number of guards for this purpose.  In compliance with this direction the United Nations has begun efforts to recruit a small group of guards for the Commission and Government House.

As a measure of economy in travel costs, the group is being recruited in Europe, through the Geneva office of the U.N.  Mr. Frank Begley is leaving for Geneva on 31 January to assist selection of the group.

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