Report by Land Expert, 18th Progress Report – UNCCP 342nd meeting (New York) – Summary record

UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SECOND MEETING (CLOSED)

Held at Headquarters, New York,

on Friday 11 November 1960, at 4:30 p.m.

CONTENTS

1. Adoption of the agenda

2. Report by the Land Expert on the work. Of the Valuation Programme

3. Draft Progress report of the Commission to the General Assembly

4. Proposed visit of the Land Expert to London and the Mission Area

1. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The agenda was adopted.

2. REPORT BY THE LAND EXPERT ON THE WORK OF THE VARIATION PROGRAMME

Mr. Jarvis, Land Expert of the Commission, reported to the members of the Commission on the progress of efforts to recruit additional experts in order to accelerate the work on the valuation programme, which had been recommended at the Commission’s previous meeting. He stated that about half the work on the analysis of sales in rural areas had been completed, but that much work and time would still be required to complete the analysis of valuation in urban areas. He anticipated that by the beginning of September 1961, the first part of the programme could be concluded so that reasonably accurate estimates could be given of the total value of Arab property in Israel and of the amount of compensation that would be payable overall. The further step of valuation of the individual parcels of land would be begun before the analysis was completed, and he hoped that the whole task would be finished by some time in the summer of 1962. He stated further that the Commission’s staff in the area was engaged in tidying up the identification work, especially in areas cut by the Armistice line, where it was drawing up the exact position of the line in relation to property holdings.

Mr. Pedersen (United States) thanked the Land Expert for his report, which was helpful in understanding the problems involved. He would hope that the analytical aspect of the work could be completed prior to the Commission’s next report to the Assembly, and hoped that the Appointments Board would approve the candidate for the new Land Expert so that the work could proceed as quickly as possible.

Mr. Dauge (France) agreed that it would be most desirable, if a previous date were impossible, to have the figures on the analysis of valuations available before the next Assembly session.

The Chairman, speaking as representative of Turkey, considered the time limits reasonable given the amount of staff available for the job.

Summing up, the Chairman stated that the Commission would like to express its appreciation to the Land Expert fop his report and its best wishes for his success in the recruitment efforts. It was anticipated therefore that the work of analysis would be completed by September 1961, and that of valuation of individual parcels by the summer of 1962.

3. DRAFT PROGRESS REPORT OF THE COMMISSION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The Commission examined a draft prepared by the Secretariat for its Eighteenth Progress Report. A number of draftings changes were discussed.

Among the points considered was whether it would be desirable to state that the working papers on compensation and repatriation would be made available to the states directly concerned when they were finished. It was agreed that this suggested addition should not be included but that once the drafts had been completed and approved by the Commission members, the Secretariat would be authorized to make copies available to delegations which requested them.

In connexion with the paragraph relating to the agreement between Israel and Barclay’s Bank concerning the release of Arab refugee accounts blocked in banks other than Barclay’s and the Ottoman Bank, Mr. Chai explained the efforts that had been made by the Commission’s Liaison Officer in Jerusalem. The draft report was approved in a manner to reflect the situation existing in the matter.

At the suggestion of the Chairman, it was agreed that the letter from Israel relating to the agreement with Barclay’s Bank should be acknowledged, and a cagy sent to the Liaison Officer.

Mr. Dauge (France) suggested that the report state that the Commission remained at the disposal of the Governments concerned. This was agreed.

With a few further drafting changes, the Commission approved the text of its Eighteenth Progress Report. It further agreed that advance copies should be sent on 14 November to the permanent representatives of Israel and of Jordan, Lebanon and U.A.R. — 3 host governments and that the report should be released to the General Assembly on Tuesday, 15 November.

4. PROPOSED VISIT OF THE LAND EXPERT TO LONDON AND THE MISSION AREA

Mr. Jarvis (Land Expert) explained to the Commission his desire to confer in London with a Professor Sorensen, who had been appointed by the Federal Republic of Germany to act as mediator with Israel on securing compensation for the property in Israel of German Templars currently residing in Australia — a matter which had been raised in a communication from the Australian Mission. Such discussions would be entirely informal, and on a strictly technical level, but would avoid the possibility of the use of entirely differently approaches to the problem yielding quite different answers. Moreover, in London he hoped to find in Colonial Office archives a survey of tribal areas in the Beersheba sub-district, where identification was so far lacking. He asked that a letter be sent to the United Kingdom Mission requesting that he be granted the necessary facilities. With regard to the Mission Area, the Land Expert felt the need to meet with the local staff and UNRWA representatives, renew his personal knowledge of the area and discretely make whatever inquiries were possible to facilitate the work on the valuation programme.

Mr. Eldem (Turkey) stated that be would be quite willing to address letters as Chairman in this connexion to the representatives of the United Kingdom and of Israel, as well as to the Secretary-General.

Mr. Dauge (France) considered that the proposed visits would be useful to the work at hand, and. would leave matters to the discretion of Mr. Jarvis.

Mr. Pedersen (United States) emphasized that care must be exercised in the conversations with Professor Sorensen not to express any views as to aims or methods which might come to be identified as emanating from the Conciliation Commission.

It was agreed by all that Mr. Jarvis’ discretion could be relied on and that discussions would be informal and on a technical level only. It was further agreed that Mr. Jarvis would remain at headquarters during consideration of the Palestine reface question in the Special Political Committee in order to assist with points that might arise during the debate or to be able to carry out any tasks for the Commission in the area that might be indicated following the adoption of a new resolution.

The meeting rose at 6.20 p.m.