Replies to letters from Syrian and Israeli delegations and Arab Refugee Congress – UNCCP 75th Meeting (Lausanne) – Summary record

UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE

NOTE ON A PRIVATE MEETING OF THE CONCILIATION COMMISSION

held at the Hotel Beau Rivage

on Friday, 24 June 1949 at 10:30 a.m.

Question of a recess in the work of the Commission

It was agreed that the Commission would take a final decision concerning the recess after making a formal proposal to the delegations that meetings of the Commission be suspended between 1 and 18 July.

Reply to the question asked by the Representative of Syria at a meeting of the Commission with the Arab Delegations on 14 June

It was agreed that the Principal Secretary and Mr. Wilkins would prepare the terms of the reply to be given by the Chairman at the next meeting with the Arab delegations.

Reply to the letter dated 20 June from the Head of the Israeli delegation concerning the powers of the Arab delegations (document IS/26)

The draft reply submitted by the Secretariat was approved in principle, subject to further suggestions which might be made by members of the Commission.

Reply to the letter dated 13 June from Mr. Bulos, Delegation Secretary, Arab Refugee Congress (ORG/18)

The draft reply prepared by the Secretariat was approved with minor changes.

Letter dated 19 June from the Head of the Israeli delegation concerning the future of the Arab areas of Palestine (document IS/27)

After discussion it was agreed that Dr. Eytan should be informed that the Commission had his letter under consideration, and that, with his consent, it would be transmitted to the Arab delegations. It was agreed that the question of a plebiscite might be studied by the Secretariat without any engagement on the part of the Commission or its committees.

Informal meetings

It was agreed that a clear distinction should be made between informal meetings of the members of the Commission, at which no decisions would be taken and Commission’s meetings at which decisions were formally made and of which the normal summary record would be kept.