Situation in Palestine – Presence of Transjordan troops – Communication between SecCo President and Foreign Minister of Transjordan

CABLEGRAM DATED 18 MAY 1948 FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE

SECURITY COUNCIL ADDRESSED TO THE FOREIGN MINISTER

OF TRANSJORDAN, AND REPLY THERETO DATED 20 MAY 1948

THE SECURITY COUNCIL AT ITS 295TH MEETING HELD ON 18 MAY DECIDED TO ADDRESS TO YOUR GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING QUESTIONS QUOTE

(a) ARE ARMED ELEMENTS OF YOUR ARMED FORCES OR IRREGULAR FORCES SPONSORED BY YOUR GOVERNMENT NOW OPERATING (1) IN PALESTINE, (2) IN AREAS (TOWNS, CITIES, DISTRICTS) OF PALESTINE WHERE THE JEWS ARE IN THE MAJORITY?

(b) IF SO, WHERE ARE SUCH FORCES NOW LOCATED AND UNDER WHAT COMMAND ARE THEY OPERATING, AND WHAT ARE THEIR MILITARY OBJECTIVES?

(c) ON WHAT BASIS IS IT CLAIMED THAT SUCH FORCES ARE ENTITLED TO ENTER (1) PALESTINE, (2) AREAS (TOWNS, CITIES, DISTRICTS) OF PALESTINE WHERE THE JEWS ARE IN THE MAJORITY, AND CONDUCT OPERATIONS THERE?

(d) WHO IS NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXERCISE OF POLITICAL FUNCTIONS IN THE AREAS OF PALESTINE WHERE THE ARABS ARE IN THE MAJORITY?

(e) IS SUCH AUTHORITY NOW NEGOTIATING WITH JEWISH AUTHORITIES ON A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT IN PALESTINE?

(f) HAVE THE JEWISH FORCES VIOLATED YOUR FRONTIERS AND PENETRATED YOUR TERRITORY?

PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL,

I WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE GOVERMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE AUTHOR OF THE PROPOSITION OF ADDRESSING THE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHICH YOU INFORMED ME, HAS NOT YET RECOGNIZED THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF TRANSJORDAN, DESPITE THE FACT THAT FOR TWO YEARS IT HAS BEEN IN A POSITION TO MEET ALL THE REQUIRED CONDITIONS FOR SUCH RECOGNITION; YET THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RECOGNIZED THE SO-CALLED JEWISH GOVERNMENT WITHIN A FEW HOURS, ALTHOUGH THE FACTORS FOR THIS RECOGNITION WERE LACKING.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE SECURITY COUNCIL REFUSED MORE THAN ONCE TO RECOMMEND TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THE ADMISSION OF THE TRANSJORDAN GOVERNMENT TO THE UNITED NATIONS.

THEREFORE, MY GOVERNMENT DOES NOT FEEL THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR REPLY TO THE QUESTIONS ADDRESSED TO IT.

—–