Consideration of Supplementary Report of Commission to SecGen – UNCCP’s General Cttee 70th mtg. (New York) – Summary record

UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE

GENERAL COMMITTEE

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE SEVENTIETH MEETING

Held in New York on 10 October 1950 at 11 a.m.

Commission’s Supplementary Report to the Secretary-General:

(consideration of Secretariat working paper W/51)

The CHAIRMAN thought that the, working paper was a very helpful document and would be of great assistance to the Committee in drafting the Supplementary Report. The question arose as to whether some parts of this paper could be used in the Report itself.

The Supplementary Report would be in the nature of a brief analysis of the situation and would give a general indication of the way in which the Commission considered that the problems might be solved. He didn’t think it was necessary for the Commission to discuss the merits of the case in this Report.

Mr. BARCO (United States) suggested that, although the working paper had not been drafted with the intention of forming part of the Supplementary Report, the Committee might usefully take it as a basis for its draft Report, following its general outline and spirit, but cutting it down considerably.

Mr. de NICOLAY (France) stated that both he and Mr. de Boisanger thought the working paper was an excellent document and he was in agreement with Mr. Barco’s suggestion.

He wished to take the opportunity to recall Mr. de Boisanger’s ideas as to the general outline of the Supplementary Report. It should be very brief, perhaps five or six pages, and should be inspired by the following idea: the present situation in Palestine was a threat to the peace, and the time had come for the United Nations to take measures to end it.

The first part of the Report should give a brief account of the situation: The Armistice Agreements were still in force but were limited in their scope; they had been intended only as a temporary measure increasing numbers of frontier incidents were taking place, etc.

The second part would deal with the refugee question.

The third part might contain the Commission’s suggestions: that the Assembly invite the parties to meet under its auspices to negotiate a settlement of all questions outstanding between them; that the resolution of 11 December 1948 concerning refugees should be reaffirmed, but that consideration should be given to the fact that some refugees might not desire to return to their homes, and therefore the Assembly should take practical steps in the matter of the payment of compensation, recognition by the Arab States of the civil rights of refugees remaining in their countries, etc.

He did not feel that the Commission should dwell on territorial questions at the present time.

The Committee then read through the working paper and made numerous deletions and suggestions.

The Secretariat was requested to prepare a draft Supplementary Report on the basis of the working paper and the indications of the Central Committee, in particular the need to emphasize strongly the Commission’s recommendation that the Assembly should invite the parties to undertake direct negotiations on all questions outstanding between them.

A general discussion followed, during which the following points of view were expressed.

The PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, although agreeing that the report should be as brief as possible, felt that it should not be too condensed. The Commission had been working for eighteen months and had a duty to the Assembly to give a clear account of the situation. The report should be long enough to permit the presentation of considerations which would give satisfaction to the one side, as well as of considerations which would be regarded as favourable to the other side n this way a balance would be achieved.

Mr. BARCO (United States) thought it was important to stress the fact that before any negotiations could be usefully undertaken, both either must realize that spirit of give and take was necessary. Up to now no such spirit had been splayed by the parties.

He felt that the report should concentrate above all on stressing the need or direct negotiations.

The PRINCIPAL SECRETARY said it should, however, avoid giving the impression to the Assembly that if direct negotiations were started the problems would automatically be straightened out. It should be made clear that the fact that direct negotiations had not taken place had made it impossible even to attempt to settle any of the outstanding questions.

In his opinion some mention might be made in the report of the present attitudes of the parties regarding the territorial question.

Mr. de NICOLAY (France) said that his delegation was opposed to raking any mention of the territorial question because they felt that the only solution to his problem was to maintain the present situation, with slight adjustments, and obviously this opinion could not be put forward.

The CHAIRMAN, summing up, said that the report should recommend that the Assembly impress upon both sides that they must make peace as soon as possible; if the attitudes of the parties did not reflect this desire, then even direct negotiations would not be fruitful.

The meeting rose at 12 noon.