UN Palestine Commission – Food supplies for Palestine – Communication from the United Kingdom

20 April 1948

UNITED NATIONS PALESTINE COMMISSION

Communication Received from United Kingdom

Delegation Concerning Food Supplies for

Palestine

The following communication, containing additional information on the question of food supplies for Palestine (see UK/109), has been received from Mr. Fletcher-Cooke of the United Kingdom Delegation.

UNITED DELEGATION TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Empire State Building

New York 1, N.Y.

My dear Bunche

In continuation of my letter of the 17th April regarding Food Supplies for Palestine, the following additional information is now available.

2. In reference sub-paragraph (1) of portage 3 of my letter, it has now been confirmed that Steel Brothers will open irrevocable credits on the Ministry of Food in London.

3. As regards sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 3 of my letter, discussions are still proceeding as to the sources from which the canned and frozen meat will be provided.

4. As regards sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 3 of my letter, the Government of Palestine is now satisfied that the future position in respect of sugar will be safeguarded by shipments afloat and due to be loaded and that it will not be necessary for it to take steps to facilitate the procurement of further supplies of sugar. Sugar will, therefore, be deleted the licences already issued.

5. As regards sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 3 of my letter, Jewish requirements in respect of oils and oil seeds will be purchased with Jewish gift dollars and it is proposed to make an allocation to the Arabs of one thousand tons of oil which will be procured by Steel Brothers.

6. The Government of Palestine has suggested to His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom that, since Steel Brothers on the termination or the Mandate will be responsible both for the liquidation of Government stocks afloat, on hand, or ordered on Government Account before the 15th May, and also for negotiating the purchase of the supplies referred to in this correspondence and, bearing in mind the winding-up arrangements in the Food Controller’s office in Palestine, wherever possible future negotiations should be controlled directly with Steel Brothers in London.

Yours sincerely,

(signed) J. FLETCHER-COOKE

(J. Fletcher-Cooke)

Dr. Ralph J. Bunche

Principal Secretary to the United Nations

Commission on Palestine,

United Nations, Lake Success.