UN Palestine Commission – Security forces in Jerusalem – Letter from United Kingdom

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UNITED NATIONS PALESTINE COMMISSION

Communication to the Chairman from Sir Alexander Cadogan concerning a Security Force in Jerusalem.

The following communication has been addressed to the Chairman of the Commission by Sir Alexander Cadogan.

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COPY

United Kingdom Delegation

to the United Nations

New York

Dear Mr. Lisicky:

You will remember that you raised with me in conversation the other day the question of a security force to preserve law and order in Jerusalem.

2. We have now received further information from Palestine on this point which may be helpful to you.

(i) At the present time in the City of Jerusalem area as defined by the General Assembly’s Plan there are 900 British Police and 350 Palestinian Police, supported by more than a brigade of troops.

(ii) Before the end of February the Government of Palestine hope to have established a Municipal Police Force of 300 Arabs and 300 Jews. It is proposed that this force should remain in being after the date of the termination of the Mandate.

(iii) In addition to these Arab-Jewish Municipal Police, the Government of Palestine considers that a force of one thousand non-Jewish non-Arab personnel would be the minims required for the preservation of law and order in this area.

(iv) There are indications that a fair number of British Police would volunteer, after the termination of their contracts with the present Administration, for service with such a force but it is impossible to give a reliable estimate until further information is available as to the proposed terms of service which would be offered and whether such service would be under British command. Most of the British Police who might be likely to volunteer would be of junior rank and rather inexperienced and it is probable that very few volunteers of the rank of Inspector and upwards would be forthcoming.

(v) It is estimated that a force of one thousand non-Jewish non-Arab personnel would cost more than £40,000 per mammal, excluding the cost of accommodation, arms, and ammunition and the capital cost of transport. The mixed Municipal Force referred to above would cost about £12,000 per mensem, so that the Municipalities are not likely to be able to contribute to the cost of the larger force.

3. The Government of Palestine have informed us that if there is to be nay question of calling for volunteers from the British Section of the Police for service in a security force in Jerusalem, they must know definitely within the next two to three weeks, otherwise there will be little or no chance of any such volunteers being available.

Signed: Yours sincerely,

Alexander Cadogan

Monsieur Karel Lisicky,

Chairman,

United Nations Commission on Palestine.