UN Palestine Commission – Camp at Aqir – Letter from Palestine transmitted by Advance Party

UNITED NATIONS PALESTINE COMMISSION

Communication the Advance Party Transmitting

a Letter from the Government of Palestine concerning

the Camp at Aqir

The following communication was received from the Advance Party in air-pouch No.2 on 21 March.

18 March 1948

Note for Dr. Bunche

Attached please find a letter from the Government of Palestine re Aqir Camp. This is a reply to your enquiry in telegram EQFC8.

C.S. Stavropoulos (signed)

Government of Palestine

Chief Secretary’s Office,

Jerusalem,

17th March, 1948

Sir,

With reference to your enquiry as to the reasons why it was necessary for this Government to withdraw the offer of Aqir Camp for occupation by the U.N. Commission, I am directed to inform you that after the offer had been made it was found impossible to provide adequate guards to prevent looting and sabotage of the buildings in the period prior to occupation.

2. It was estimated that for this purpose at least two companies of troops or police would have been required and under present conditions it was not found possible to provide such a force.

3. Consideration was also given to the alternative of a Jewish guard but this was thought to be undesirable on general grounds and particularly so in a place near a predominantly Arab area and the boundary of the proposed States.

I am Sir,

Your obedient servant,

W. R. McGeagh (signed)

for Chief Secretary

Dr. Stavropoulos,

U.N Commission Staff