Mtg. w/ Arab delegations re. conclusion of NY meetings & Commission’s future activities – UNCCP – Summary record

UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE

SUMMARY RECORD OF A MEETING BETWEEN

THE CONCILIATION COMMISSION AND THE

DELEGATIONS OF THE ARAB STATES

held at Flushing, N.Y., on Friday,

9 December 1949, at 2:30 p.m.

The CHAIRMAN informed the Arab delegations that the present meeting would be the last to be convened by the Commission in New York. He announced the Commission’s decision to resume its work in Geneva on 16 January, with a study of the Clapp report, and to recommence official meetings with the Arab and Israeli delegations on 23 January. The refugee question, because of its great urgency, would be the first subject of discussion, but the Commission hoped also to begin mediation on certain specific points, working toward an eventual peace settlement. The Commission, as always, counted on the good will and helpful collaboration of the Arab delegations for the success of its mission.

MOSTAFA BEY (Egypt), speaking for himself and his colleagues, expressed appreciation of the Commission’s efforts in the past. The Arab Governments were resolved to continue working with the Commission toward the establishment of a durable peace based on principles of justice. It had always been their view that the refugee question was the most urgent of the problems facing the Commission, and that it constituted the key to the solution of the other problems at issue. The General Assembly had now given official recognition to that fact by voting the appropriation of further funds for the continuance of aid to the refugees. He felt that the Commission’s presence during the General Assembly’s session had been very useful; it was now generally agreed, as the Commission had believed from the first, that the solution of the refugee problem lay in the return to their homes of those refugees who desired to return and the resettlement of the remainder in other countries. As regards the other questions which the Commission would Study in Geneva, Mostafa Bay believed that the Protocol of 12 May 1949 was still a useful basis for discussion.

While foreseeing that there might be certain changes in the composition of the delegations which would meet with the Commission in Geneva, Mostafa Bey reiterated the intention of the Arab Governments to continue full cooperation with the Commission, and extended on behalf of his colleagues and himself, sincere good wishes for the success of the Commission’s work,

MULKI PASHA (Hashemite Jordan Kingdom) and Mr. SHOUKAIRI (Syria) had nothing to add to the statements of their Egyptian colleague, who had expressed the views of their own delegations.

Mr. de BOISANGER thanked the Egyptian representative for his remarks. With regard to possible changes in the composition of the delegations, he hoped such changes would not be necessary and that the Commission would be able to continue working with the same persons as heretofore.

Mr. PALMER shared the hope expressed by Mr. de Boisanger; it was important, for the continuity of the Commission’s work, that the personnel of the group should remain unchanged insofar as possible.

The meeting rose at 3 p.m.