Consideration of 1st progress report – UNCCP 19th meeting – Summary record


UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE NINETEENTH MEETING
Held at the King David Hotel, Jerusalem,
on Tuesday, 1 March 1949, at 4 p.m.

 

 

Present:

Mr. de Boisanger

 (France)

Chairman

Mr. Yalchin

(Turkey)

*Mr. Wilkins

(U.S.A.)

Mr. Azcarate

Principal Secretary

*Alternate

In the absence of the Chairman, Mr. de Boisanger (France) took the chair. Consideration of draft of first progress report to the Secretary-General.

Mr. YALCHIN had several objections to paragraph 1. He felt that the first part was too lengthy and served no useful purpose; in the last sentence he objected to any statement that the present situation could be regarded as satisfactory.

The CHAIRMAN read a proposed redraft of paragraph 1, taking into, account the suggestions of the representative of Turkey, which proved acceptable to the Commission.

Mr. WILKINS requested the deletion of the last sentence of paragraph 2.

With regard to paragraph 3, Mr. Wilkins thought the present wording might lead to some misunderstanding; it might give the impression that the General Assembly had some responsibility in connection with the armistice negotiations. He requested a revision of the second sentence to read “if their direction were to be transferred by the Security Council…”

In paragraph 5, the section concerning refugees, Mr. YALCHIN preferred the use of the word “liaison” rather than “collaboration”, in the first sentence, since the Commission should avoid giving the impression that it was engaging in relief work. It should also be indicated that that liaison had been undertaken in accordance with the resolution of the General Assembly.

Mr. WILKINS suggested that a distinction should be made, in the first and third sections of paragraph, between the Holy Places of Jerusalem and those outside the Jerusalem area. He objected to the negative approach of the present wording.

The CHAIRMAN suggested the addition f the phrase “concerning Jerusalem and its Holy Places”, in the first section of the paragraph, to meet Mr. Wilkins’ request. He further proposed a revision of the third section to indicate that the Commission had received the impression during its tour that the necessary guarantees for the Holy Places would be forthcoming.

Mr. WILKINS objected t o t he drafting of the first section of paragraph 6, which laid disproportionate emphasis upon the mention of particular political figures. He also thought it unnecessary and perhaps harmful to call attention to the matter of the Commission’s reception in Egypt. He would prefer a simple statement to the effect that the Commission had held discussions with the responsible officials of each country visited.

The CHAIRMAN, supported by Mr. YALCHIN, thought it was not out of place for the Commission to mention the specific contacts it had been able to achieve in each country. He preferred the present drafting, but agreed that it might be desirable to state that the Commission had been received by the Head of the State in most of the countries visited, omitting specific mention of Egypt.

Mr. WILKINS felt that the second section of paragraph 6 did not reflect the positive manner in which the Commission had approached the various Governments, and the fact that many questions had been discussed in a preliminary way. It should also be indicated that the Commission was not free to reproduce the opinions expressed to it, since those opinions had been confidential.

He accepted a revision of the section proposed by the CHAIRMAN.

In reply to a question by Mr. WILKINS concerning possible mention in the report of the questions of demilitarization of Jerusalem, access to Jerusalem, and the appointment of a United Nations representative for liaison with the interim administration of the city, the Chairman said he thought it advisable to postpone mention of those questions until a later moment.

The Commission adopted its report as amended and with certain minor drafting changes.

The meeting rose at 5:45 p.m.


2019-03-12T20:13:10-04:00

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