UK consultations/Draft rules of procedure – UNPC 5th meeting (N.Y.) – Summary record

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE FIFTH MEETING OF
 THE UNITED NATIONS PALESTINE COMMISSION

Lake Success, New York,
Wednesday, 14 January 1948, at 11.00 a.m.

1. CONSULTATION OF THE SECRETARY WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM REPRESENTATIVES.

The CHAIRMAN stated that the Secretary had consulted with representatives of the United Kingdom Government after the conclusion of the previous day’s discussion. He asked the Secretary to inform Members of the Commission of what had taken place.

The SECRETARY answered that he had been informed by Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Fletcher-Cooke that Sir Alexander Cadogan, Mr. Trafford Smith and Mr. Fletcher-Cooke would attend the afternoon meeting of the Commission to present oral statements. If the Commission desired, the United Kingdom delegation might be prepared to present a current review of conditions in Palestine. Formal papers were being prepared by the United Kingdom Government for submission to the Commission but it was not as yet known when these papers would be ready to be presented. The Secretary added that he had been asked by the United Kingdom representatives as to the general questions the Commission would put to them. He had replied that the Commission desired at this early stage some indications of the development of British policy since the adoption of the General Assembly Resolution.

He had pointed out further to the representatives, that the outline plan concerning the withdrawal of the British Administration and forces from Palestine which Mr. Creech Jones had mentioned in the House of Commons 11 December 1947 as having been submitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, had not yet been received by the Secretary General.

2. CONSIDERATION OF THE DRAFT PLAN OF PROCEDURE (DOCUMENT A/AC.21/W.14).

The CHAIRMAN invited Members to make general comments on the Draft Rules of Procedure (A/AC.21/W.14) prepared by the Secretariat, before conducting a paragraph-by-paragraph reading of the Rules.

Mr. FEDERSPIEL. (Denmark) remarked that from a cursory study of these rules he had the impression that they were for a deliberating body rather than an administrative body such as the Commission.

Mr. MEDINA (Bolivia) and Mr. MORGAN (Panama) agreed with the Representative of Denmark.

The CHAIRMAN concurred with this view and said it would be kept in mind during the reading.

Proposed Rules 1, 2 and 3 were adopted without revision.

Proposed Rule 4 was adopted with the amendment that the phrase “Items proposed by any organ of the United Nations having relation to the Commission” should replace points 3, 4 and 5.

Proposed Rule 5 was deleted.

Proposed Rule 6 was adopted with the deletion of the last sentence.

Proposed Rule 7 was adopted with the amendment that the first sentence should read “in the absence of the Chairman during a meeting or any part thereof, the Vice-Chairman shall take his place”.

Proposed Rules 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 were adopted without amendment.

MR. FEDERSPIEL (Denmark) commenting on Rule 13, pointed out that very concise summary records, incorporating decisions taken by the Commission, were required.

The SECRETARY remarked that summary records were useful and essential not only for the Commission itself but for future reference by other organs of the United Nations. It had been customary to give in summary records not only decisions but trends of opinion leading to such decisions. In view of the opinions manifested in the Commission, the Secretariat would keep the records as concise as possible.

Proposed Rules 13 and 14 were adopted without amendment,

Proposed Rule 15 was adopted with the amendment that the word “Members” should replace the word “Representatives” and the phrases “whenever possible” and “after consultation with the Secretariat” should be deleted.

It was agreed that wherever the word “Representative(s)” appeared in the text of the draft rules, it should be replaced by the word “Member(s)”.

Proposed Rule 16 was adopted without amendment.

Proposed Rule 17 was adopted with the deletion of the words “and verbal briefings” in the heading of that Rule.

Proposed Rule 18 was amended to read “Press releases shall be issued as a rule following each meeting in such form as circumstances may require” and adopted.

Proposed Rule 19 was adopted without amendment.

Proposed Rule 20 was deleted on the understanding that its provisions were already covered by Rule 8,

Proposed Rules 21 and 22 were deleted.

Proposed Rules 23 and 24 were adopted without amendment.

Proposed Rules 25, 26 and 27 were deleted on the understanding that their provisions were already covered by Rule 8,

Proposed Rule 28 was adopted without amendment.

Proposed Rule 29 was adopted with the following amendments amendments. The phrase “subject to Rule 19” should replace the phrase “subject to Rule 27” in the first line and the word “consideration” should replace the words “the debate” in points (c) and (d).

Proposed Rule 30 was adopted without amendment.

Proposed Rule 31 was adopted with the amendment that the phrase “subject Rule 22” should replace the phrase “subject to Rule 33” in the first line.

Proposed Rule 32 was deleted.

The meeting rose at 1.10 p.m.