Press communiqué on examination of situation following the GA discussion on the question of Palestine. – UNCCP 295th meeting (New York) – Summary record

UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY FIFTH MEETING (CLOSED)

Held at Headquarters, New York,

on Wednesday, 28 January 1953, at 3:00 p.m.

CONTENTS

1. Adoption of the agenda

2. Working papers submitted by Mr. Hadawi, the Commission’s Land Specialist

3. The question of Arab accounts blocked in Israel

4. Communications to the Governments of the interested parties

5. Press communiqué

1. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

At the suggestion of the previous Chairman, Mr. Ordonneau, the Commission agreed that Mr. Baran (Turkey) should assume the Chairmanship of the Commission.

The CHAIRMAN and Mr. BARCO (United States of America) paid tribute to the manner in which Mr. Ordonneau had performed the functions of Chairman of the Commission.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The agenda was adopted.

1. WORKING PAPERS SUBMITTED BY MR. HADAWI, THE COMMISSION’S LAND SPECIALIST

The Commission agreed that it would examine the papers at one of its next meetings.

2. THE QUESTION OF ARAB ACCOUNTS BLOCKED IN ISRAEL

Mr. BARCO (United States of America) thought that the Commission would be interested in learning from the delegation of Israel what progress had been made in the procedures worked out by Israel and Barclay’s Bank.

No information had been received since the representative of Israel had stated during the General Assembly debate that payment of the first instalment would be started by 1 March. It might be appropriate to hear the representative of Israel now and to discuss with him the question of a second, instalment as well.

Mr. ORDONNEAU (France) agreed and suggested that the representative of Israel should be given as much notice as possible of the questions which the Commission wished to discuss.

The CHAIRMAN agreed and said that he would get into touch with Mr. Rafael.

3. COMMUNICATION TO THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE INTERESTED PARTIES

Mr. ORDONNEAU (France) questioned whether it would be useful to send another communication to the parties similar to the one sent the previous year. It was obvious that the Commission was in fact meeting and to stress the point a press release might be issued on that subject.

The CHAIRMAN suggested that an announcement might be made in the Journal.

Mr. BARCO (United States of America) said that his delegation agreed with the representative of France that a separate communication was not necessary but that it would be advisable to issue a press release on the question, it would also be well to have an announcement in the Journal.

4. PRESS COMMUNIQUE

After some discussion the Commission agreed on the following press communiqué:

“The Conciliation Commission held a meeting at the United Nations Headquarters today and examined the situation as it presents itself following the discussion of the Palestine question by the General Assembly during its seventh session. It took note of the fact that the Commission was still guided by the resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 26 January 1952.

The Commission decided to continue for the present to meet at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York and to pursue its efforts to lend assistance to the parties in particular to solve the question of compensation for the Palestine refugees, the release of bank accounts blocked in Israel and other outstanding problems.”

The meeting rose at 3.55 p.m.