Arrangements for opening of the Paris conference (cont.), Chairman’s opening statement (complete text) UNCCP 136th meeting (Paris) – Summary Record

UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIXTH MEETING

held in the Hotel de Crillon, Paris,
on Thursday, 13 September 1951, at 10.40 a.m.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE (continued)

The CHAIRMAN notified the Commission that the meeting with the Israel representative would take place at 3.45 p.m. on that day. In accordance with the Commission’s decision, the text of the opening statement which he was going to make at the two meetings at which the parties would be present, would be made public after he had read it to the Israel delegation.

The meeting rose at 10.50 a.m.

OPENING OF THE PARIS CONFERENCE

Statement of the Chairman of the Conciliation Commission
13 September 1951

As the Chairman of the Palestine Conciliation Commission, during the Commission’s initial meetings here with you, it is my privilege and it is a pleasure for me, to welcome you on behalf of the Commission as participants in this Paris conference.

We find in the acceptance of our invitations to this conference, by the Governments of the five neighbour States to which the invitations were addressed, encouragement for our belief that those who entered into the Armistice Agreements have an earnest desire to promote the return of permanent peace in Palestine.

Those engagements, entered into almost three years ago, had a two-fold purpose: to put an end to bitter warfare and to pave the way for a transition to a lasting peace in a land sacred to three of the world’s great religions.

The first purpose has been achieved; the warfare between the neighbour States has been stopped. But there has been little progress toward the achievement of the second purpose — that is, the working out of a peaceful settlement of the problems dividing these neighbour States.

The objective of this conference, in which we hope to continue to find encouragement from your participation, is to seek, through mediation, solutions to these problems which, as we see them, can be broadly grouped into two categories: (a) problems mainly affecting the rights and status of individuals, and (b) problems mainly affecting the rights, obligations and relations of States.

The first group includes such questions as the repatriation, compensation and resettlement of refugees; claims for indemnification for damages resulting from hostilities; and disposition of blocked accounts.

Among the specific problems in the second group are: delineation of boundary and demarcation lines; demilitarized zones and no-man’s lands; arrangements for free-port facilities; water, fishing and navigation rights; communications and telecommunications; and such problems as narcotics, contraband and health control.

Many of these problems have been the subject of discussions between the Commission and the parties during the past three years. In a sense, these discussions have been useful. They have made abundantly clear the views, aspirations and ideas of the parties to the dispute. But the time has now come to make constructive use of this clarification of views, aspirations and ideas. That is the task the Commission has undertaken by assuming its mediatory functions at this conference and by offering to submit concrete proposals for consideration by the parties.

In drafting the proposals to be submitted to you, the Commission has been guided by two considerations: fairness and realism. We have tried to take into consideration all the views expressed during the past three years by the parties to the dispute, as well as the political, social and economic realities observed by us. We have come to the conclusion that the Palestine problem must be considered in its entirety, and that its solution must be sought in a fair and realistic spirit of give-and-take.

In considering the Palestine problem in its entirety, we are following the guidance given to us by the General Assembly. The Assembly resolution under which our Commission operates — and under which you are co-operating with us — emphasizes the general character of the Palestine problem. In drafting our mediatory proposals for discussion in this conference, we have had to keep in mind that the General Assembly has instructed us to assist the governments and authorities concerned to achieve a final settlement of all questions outstanding between them. I feel certain that in considering our proposals, you will keep in mind that the Assembly, in the same resolution, has called upon the parties to the dispute to seek agreement by negotiations with a view to the final settlement of all outstanding questions. It is impossible to miss the meaning of this call and the clear emphasis of the resolution on the interdependence of the various elements of the Palestine problem.

Experience has shown that concentration on one or the other isolated paragraph of the resolution out of context has not helped in the promotion of peace in Palestine. All the elements are necessary, but they are useful only if linked together according to an overall plan. For example, the resolution instructs us to facilitate the repatriation, resettlement and rehabilitation of refugees, and we did not forget that instruction when we drafted our proposals for this conference. Nor did we forget the instruction given us in the same resolution, to seek agreements between the governments which will facilitate the economic development of the area, including arrangements for free access to ports and airfields and the use of transportation and communication facilities. On the one hand, a sound economic development is impossible in an area with hundreds of thousands of homeless people uncertain of the future and their standing in society. On the other hand, refugees — and non-refugees for that matter — cannot be settled securely anywhere in an area badly lacking economic development.

Surely, the inter-relation of all the aspects of the problem is too obvious to be overlooked. The Conciliation Commission has not overlooked it in weighing the mediatory proposals to be placed before you at this conference. In drafting these proposals, we have considered that any solution of the refugee question will involve important commitments by Israel. But we have also considered that Israel cannot be expected to make such commitments unless, at the same time, she receives reasonable assurances from her neighbours as to her national and economic security.

The solution of the refugee problem proposed by the Commission envisages the repatriation and integration of some of the refugees in Israel and the resettlement of others in Arab countries.

Such undertakings will necessitate the creation of additional land by means of development and irrigation and agreements between the parties on the use of water resources. These agreements will, in turn, involve revisions or extensions in scope of existing Armistice Agreements, as well as appropriate economic arrangements.

No constructive progress towards a solution of your problems is possible unless all the parties to the dispute, at the outset of our discussions here, express their determination to respect each other’s right to security and freedom from attack, to refrain from warlike or hostile acts against one another, and to .promote the return of permanent peace in Palestine.

These are the considerations which have inspired the comprehensive proposals which the Commission will place before you as the pattern for this conference.

At this time of our initial meeting here with you, my colleagues and I have endeavoured to help you to understand the general pattern of proposals which we desire to submit to you for consideration after you have had an opportunity at our next meeting to respond to this statement. We believe that you will understand our feeling that the measure of the helpfulness of our proposals will be found not only in the extent to which they offer opportunities for progressive action but also in the extent to which we can all work together to make the most of these opportunities.

It is now almost three years since the General Assembly formulated a United Nations policy for the settlement of the problems arising out of the Palestine conflict. Notwithstanding successive efforts to find a way to such a settlement, we have as yet made no progress that to the casual observer is in any way apparent. Without attempting to determine where the primary responsibility for that failure may be, we all here must now recognize that we share the responsibility for coming to grips with these problems in a new spirit of determination, realism and honesty. No one of us can fail to hope that the problems with which we are dealing will be solved, or fail to wish to make his distinct contribution to their solution. It is easy enough to look at the record of the past three years and remain sceptical. What is needed now from all of us is extra determination, extra faith, extra goodwill. Too much depends on the outcome of our efforts here for any of us to indulge in second thoughts, flagging determination or lack of faith in our ability to arrive at a just solution. The Conciliation Commission is ready and determined to do its part. In doing its part, it counts on your understanding and co-operation in fullest measure.