Mtg. w/ Arab delegations re. UNCCP’s role as mediator & the question of direct negotiations – UNCCP – Summary record

UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE

SUMMARY RECORD OF A MEETING BETWEEN

THE CONCILIATION COMMISSION AND THE

DELEGATIONS OF THE ARAB STATES

held in New York on Tuesday

1 November 1949, at 11:30 a.m.

The CHAIRMAN explained that he had convened the meeting for the purpose of advising the Arab delegations formally, first, that the Commission was studying their suggestions concerning the importance of undertaking mediation and would make known its decision shortly, and secondly, that the Commission had received a note from the Israeli delegation to which it expected to make written reply. The text of both the note and the reply would be communicated to the Arab delegations toward the end of the following week.

Mr. YALCIN wished to add that the Commission was sensible to the indication of confidence implicit in the Arab delegations’ request that the Commission should undertake mediation.

MOSTAFA BEY (Egypt) desired to recall to the Commission’s attention the question of the annexation of the city of Jaffa to the city of Tel Aviv, which he had discussed at a previous meeting (SR/NYM.1). He still hoped that the Commission would be able to take steps in the matter, since the entire Israeli policy of the fait accompli, of which this was a further example, was rendering the Commission’s task more difficult. On the question of mediation, he reaffirmed the attitude of his delegation, which had always had full confidence in the Commission and hoped that its work would result in the return of peace to the Middle East.

Mr. SHOUKAIRI (Syria) supported the statement of his Egyptian colleague. He felt, however, that the contents of the new Israeli note would be of great concern to the Arab delegations as well as to the Commission, and requested therefore that the Arab delegations should be given an opportunity to see the note and comment thereon before the Commission prepared its reply.

The CHAIRMAN regretted that the Commission could not thus avail itself of a possible opportunity to opening direct negotiations, but maintained that since the note concerned the future status of the Commission, it was preferable that both letter and reply should be transmitted to the Arab delegations together.

MOSTAFA BEY (Egypt) confirmed the position which his delegation had always maintained, throughout the Commission’s visit to the Arab capitals and the subsequent meetings in Beirut and in Lausanne. His delegation had always been desirous of collaborating with the Commission within the framework of the terms of the resolution of 11 December 1948; its collaboration, however, extended only to the Commission, not to the other party. The question of direct negotiations did not arise at the present time.

MULKI PASHA (Hashemite Jordan Kingdom) affirmed that his delegation had always cooperated with the Commission and had been entirely satisfied with the procedure followed; it had no intention of departing from the position it had always maintained. If the Commission agreed to undertake mediation, he felt that the Palestine problem would be well on the way toward solution.

M. GHORRA (Lebanon) drew attention to his delegation’s faithful cooperation with the Commission in the past; the Lebanese Government wished to continue that cooperation in the future, in the spirit of the resolution and the framework of the Commission’s terms of reference.

MR. SHOUKAIRI (Syria) supported the statements of his colleagues. Procedural matters had always been subject to the decision of the Commission, not of the delegations; however, the Commission in the past had adhered to the wise procedure of not attempting to force the issue of bringing the Israeli and Arab delegations together in direct negotiations, nor to question the declared solidarity of the Arab delegations. He did not feel that this well-established procedure could now be reversed. The Arab delegations would continue their cooperation with the Commission on the same basis as in the past.

The CHAIRMAN took note of the statements of the Arab representatives, and observed that there were no further questions which the Commission wished to discuss with the Arab delegations until it was ready to communicate the Israeli note and its own reply, probably within ten days.

The meeting rose at 12:15 p.m.