UN Palestine Commission - Communications received Secretariat Advance Party - Accommodation of the Commission

UNITED NATIONS PALESTINE COMMISSION

Communication Received from Secretariat

Advance Party, Jerusalem

ACCOMMODATION OF THE COMMISSION

PROGRESS REPORT NO. 1

I. The question of housing the Commission was discussed at several meetings between Mr. Azcarate and Mr. Stavropoulos and Sir Henry Gurney and the Director of Public Works. During the discussions the Palestine Government expressed a doubt whether the Commission would like to sit in Jerusalem. The Palestine Government is seeking a truce between the two elements of the population of Jerusalem, and negotiations are in progress. They seem to fear that if a truce were called and subsequently the Commission were to arrive in Jerusalem, fighting would start again. There might also be some unwillingness to receive the Commission in Jerusalem on 1 May while the Palestine Government will be winding up.

2. The only suggestion regarding accommodation of the Commission made by the Palestine Government is Wilhelma. Wilhelma is a small village at a distance of three to four miles from Lydda airport, built by German settlers. Although inside the proposed Jewish State’s boundaries, it is surrounded by Arab villages and lies in a completely Arab area. As stated in the first general report of the Advance Party. Wilhelma was visited by members of the Advance Party. It consists of one main road crossed at a junction by a shorter road. It is inhabited today by about 270 Germans. The intention of the Palestine Government is that those Germans should be transferred to Australia or Germany, even if the Commission does not wish to use Wilhelma. There are altogether about 55 houses, 25 of which only have inside sanitation and running water. The 55 houses have about 228 rooms. Only, some of those rooms are adequately furnished. There is no electricity and there are no telephones.

3. Wilhelma presents the following defects:

(a) It lies inside an Arab area in flat country, and as a result a strong guard would be needed for the security of the Commission,

(b) It has no electricity

(d) Inadequate furniture

Only 25 houses have inside sanitation

Catering will have to be provided on a large scale.

Given time and money, some of the above defects may be eradicated. However; it will be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to maintain telephone communications with the rest of the country and the outside world.

4. Notwithstanding the above defects, Wilhelma may have to be used if nothing else is found, in the meanwhile, at least for the period until 15 May. Regarding the housing of the Commission after 15 May, contact was made with the Manager of the King David Hotel with a view to continuing the lease of the hotel after it is relinquished by the Palestine Government and the British military authorities. The Manager of the Hotel was asked to submit estimates for housing the Commission in the Hotel and for catering. It was understood that part of the hotel would be used as offices. Should the Hotel be leased, the problem of housing the Commission would, in principle, be solved. If further accommodation is required, it maybe found in adjoining houses to be leased or requisitioned. It should be pointed out, however, that this would be a very costly transaction. At present the Hotel is used as Government offices and there are about 400 civil servants and officers working in it. The manager is going to submit his estimates within the next ten days, after having consulted with the Directors of the Company.

5. The German Hospital, Augusta Victoria, seems to be out of the question. Not only has it no furniture and other accommodation, as has the King David Hotel, but also it entails commutation through a thickly populated Arab district, which would make very difficult for the Jewish element the collaboration with the Commission.

6. On being asked by the Advance Party, the Chief Secretary answered that he regretted that at present he is unable to suggest any alternative to Wilhelma. However, a meeting has been arranged for tomorrow with the Chief Secretary to consider the question again.

Attached you will find a description of the buildings of Wilhelma prepared by the Department of Public Works.

Note: compiled by the Department of Public Works.

WILHELMA – Built-up Area

Parcel No.	Block No.6398 Description	Remarks
1.	Built-up area: 2 houses. 1. House: 1 floor and 1 apartment, 3 rooms hall, kitchen, larder, bath, w.c., 2 verandas and cellar. 2. House: Parterre, cellar and 1 apartment; 5 rooms, kitchen, corridor, larder, bath, w.c., 2 balconies and verandah. Parterre, workshop, garage, laundry rooms, store room, corridor and staircase. Road Cellar: Store rooms and closed cistern for rain water Road Plot Road
2.	Plot Road
3.	Plot Road
4.	Plot
5.	Built-up area: 1 house: 1 floor, cellars and 1 apartment; 4 rooms, kitchen, larder, corridor, bath, w.c. and 2 terraces. Cellar: 3 stores and 1 room, 1 cowshed without loft. Road
6.	Plot
7.	Plot Road
8.	Plot
9.	Plot Road
10.	Plot Road
11.	Built-up area: 2 houses. 1. House: Cellar: 5 stores and chicken house; 1st floor: 4 rooms, hall, kitchen, bath, w.c., verandah and balcony. 2. house: 3 rooms, big hall & kitchen, 1 shed with loft; 1 hut of corrugated iron.
12.	Built-up area: 1 house; 1 shed.
13.	Built-up area: 2 concrete steds and stable of 1 chicken house, store room, laundry & baking room, calf shed and horse stable. Road.
14.	Built-up area: 1 house, shed, workshop, and farm. 1 cellar. 1st floor, 1 apartment, 2 rooms, hall, kitchen, verandah, Garret 4 rooms. 1 hut – workshop and stable. 1 house, 1 cellar, 1 apartment: 4 rooms, kitchen with larder, corridor, bath. w,c, and 2 terraces. cellar: 4 store rooms, 1 cowshed with loft.
15.	Road 1 house: 2 floors and cellar. 1st floor: 2 rooms, hall, kitchen, w.c. bath and verandah, terrace, larder. 2nd floor: 4 rooms, cellar: 4 store rooms. 1 cowshed with loft
16.	Road
17.	Built-up area: 1 house, 1 floor and 1 apartment of: 2 rooms, kitchen and corridor. Cellar: 2 rooms, garret: corridor and 2 rooms, 1 hut shed with loft. Road
18.	Built-up area: 1 house, 1st floor, 1 garret & cellar w. apartment, 2 rooms, kitchen, hall, terrace, garret: 2 rooms and 1 store; cellar: 2 store rooms, 1 shed with loft, 1 chicken house, 1 laundry store.
19.	Built-up area: 1 house of 1 floor; 1 apartment and 1 cellar. 1st floor: 2 rooms, hall kitchen and balcony. Garret: 2 large rooms. cellar: 2 stores, 1 shed with loft. 1 concrete chicken house, 1 separate laundry but and store. Road
20.	20. Built-up area: 1 house, 1 floor, 1 cellar, 1 garret and 1 apart. 1st floor: 2 rooms, kitchen hall terrace. garret; 2 store rooms and store. Cellar: 2 store rooms, 1 cowshed, with loft, 1 chicken house and laundry room. 1 horse stable.
21.	21. Built-up area: 1 house: 1 floor and 1 apartment; 3 rooms, kitchen, cellar: 3 stores, 1 cowshed with loft, 1 stable with chicken house, workshop and loft. Road
Page 3 Missing
38.	Road
39.	Road
40.	Road
41.	Road
Block No. 6309
1.	Plot.
2.	Built on wood
3.	Plot
4.	Road
5.	Road
6.	Plot
7.	Plot
8.	Plot
9.	Plot
10.	Built-up area: 1 house of 1 floor, 1 apartment and 1 cellar. 3 rooms, kitchen, larder, corridor, w.c. and bath. Plot
11.	Built-up area: 1 house of 5 rooms and kitchen, 1 cowshed.
12.	Built-up area: 1 house of 1 floor, 1 apartment and cellar. 4 rooms, hall, kitchen large larder, terrace and cellar: 3 store rooms and w.c. 1 shed.
13.	Plot
14.	Plot
15.	Cemetery
16.	Wood on built on area
17.	Plot
18.	Plot
19.	Plot
20.	Built-up area: 1 house of 1 floor, 1 apartment, cellar and garret, 4 rooms, kitchen corridor, (adjacent by house with 1 rooms as workshop); upstairs garret for storing.
21.	Plot
22.	Plot
23,	Plot
24.	Plot
25.	Plot
26.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors, 1 apartment and cellars. cellar: 3 store rooms, 1st floor: 2 rooms, hall, kitchen, larder, w.c., bath, terrace and balcony, 2nd. floor: 3 rooms and hall.
27.	Built-up area: 1 house of 1 floor (below cowshed) 2 rooms, kitchen, bath, w.c., larder, terrace and hay store.
28.	Built-up area: 1 house, 1 floor, 1 apartment and cellar. Cellar: 3 store rooms, 4 rooms, entrance room, hall, kitchen, with larder, w.c, bath verandah and terrace. 1 shed with loft.
29.	Built-up area: 1 house, 1 floor, 1 apartment and cellar. Cellar: 3 store rooms, 4 rooms, entrance room, hall, kitchen, with larder, w.c, bath verandah and terrace. 1 shed with loft.
30.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors, 1 apartment cellar, garret. 1st floor: 3 rooms, kitchen, corridor, w.c., store room, 2nd. Floor, corridor, 3 rooms and terrace; garret: 2 offices, 1 garret store, cellar: 1 store room. Adjacent to building bakery and little kneading room and four workshop rooms, 1 shed (store) old, 1 cowshed with loft and Brain store.
31.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors, 1 apartment and 1 cellar. 1st house: 2 rooms, hall, kitchen terrace; 2nd. house: 2 rooms, hall. 1 cowshed.
32.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors, 2 apartments and cellar. Cellar: 4 store rooms. 1st floor: 3 rooms, kitchen, hall, bath, w.c. larder, 2 terraces. 2nd floor: as above. 1 shed with loft.
33.	Built-up area: I use of 2 floors, 1 apartment. 1st floor: 1 room, kitchen, stair, hall, 2nd floor: 2 rooms, 1, cowshed, 1 chicken house.
34.	Built-up area: I use of 2 floors, 1 apartment. 1st floor: 1 room, kitchen, stair, hall, 2nd floor: 2 rooms, 1, cowshed, 1 chicken house.
35.	Built-up area: 1 house of 1 floor, 1 apartment and attic (loft). 7 rooms, kitchen, bath, w.c. & laundry.
36.	Built-up area: 1 house of 1 floor, 1 apartment and 1 cellar. Cellar: 4 store rooms. Flat: 4 rooms, hall, kitchen, larder, w.c. Bath, terrace and balcony. 1 laundry and chicken house.
37.	Built-up area: 1 house of 1 floor, 1 apartment. Flat: 2 rooms and kitchen, 1 adjacent shed.
38.	(Missing)
39.	Missing Text…and stable.
40.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors and 1 apartment. groundfloor: 1 room, 3 storerooms, though equipped for dwelling purposes now. lst floor: 4 rooms, entrance room, terrace with kitchen, Separate: w.c. and bath. 1 adjacent house: 1 but used as stores, 1 chicken house.
41.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors, 2 apartments and cellar. Cellar: 1 room and 3 stores. 1st flat: 3 rooms, 2 kitchens, corridor, bath & w.c.
42.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors, 1 apartment. Groundfloor: 2 rooms, kitchen, store room and corridor. lst floor: 4 rooms and corridor. 1 cowshed with little store, loft with loft store for grain and seeds.
43.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors, 1 apartment and cellar. Cellar: 1 room, dwelling: 7 rooms, hall and kitchen. 1 little workshop.
44.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors and 1 apartment. Groundfloor: 2 rooms, kitchen with store corner. 1st floor: 3 rooms, 1 shed with store room, loft and gain store, 1 chicken house with little store and laundry.
45.	Built-up area: 1 house of I floor, 1 apartment, 1 cellar and attic. 4 rooms, hall, kitchen. Top: 3 attics (rooms) 1 shed with loft.
46.	Built-up area: 1 house of 1 floor: Dairy: 8 rooms, main hall by rooms, 2 cold stores. Below: engine room, work room, corridor hall, 3 store rooms. Roof: Brine and oak room, attached (around) w.c washrooms. 1 Boiler house. Mechanic equipment: 1 engine Dentz and 1 MWM Diesel – 24 / 18 H.P. Reception tank, Meass apparatus, cream separator, 2 milk jumps, 2 ice compressors, 1 dynamo generator, pasteurizer, 2 milk coolers, 1 butter drum, another pasteurizer, bottle cleaners, softening apparatus tank, car rinser, foam destroyer, cans etc. etc,
47.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors, 2 apartments, 1 cellar. 1st floor: 4 rooms, kitchen, bath, hall with stairs. 2nd. floor: 5 rooms, kitchen, hall and balcony. Cellar: 3 stores, 1 cowshed with loft.
48.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors, 2 apartments. Groundfloor: 3 rooms, kitchen entrance, hall, with staircase. 1st floor: 4 rooms, kitchen, hall, attachment. Larder, bake room, store. Chicken house find closette; 1 shed with store and top loft.
49.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors, 1 apartment and cellar. 1st floor: 2 rooms, kitchen hall with stairs, bath. Top: 3 rooms and hall. Cellar: 2 store rooms, 1 shed with loft.
50.	Plot
51.	Built-up area: 1 house of 1 floor, 1 apartment and garret. Groundfloor: 4 rooms, kitchen and verandah. Garret: 1 garret entrance room, 2 garret stores. 1 adjacent to house NE side formerly saddlery workshop.
52.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors, 1 apartment and cellar. Groundfloor: 2 rooms, kitchen larder, entrance hall with staircase, bath and 2 terraces. 1st floor: 4 rooms (garret). Cellar: store and laundry, 1 bake house with chicken house.
53.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors, 2 apartments, cellar. Cellar: garret store. 1st floor: 2 rooms, hall, kitchen, verandah, 2nd. floor: 3 rooms, kitchen, corridor, terrace. 1 carpentry shop and store. 1 cowshed with loft 1 laundry house with chicken house.
54.	Built-up area: 2 houses. 1st house: 2 halls, corridor – school. 2nd. house: Teachers house with cellar. A. groundfloor: 4 rooms, kitchen and corridor. B. 1st floor: 4 rooms, kitchen, corridor, bath and w.c, and terrace. 1 hut – w.c. lavatory, laundry, store.
55.	Built-up area: 1 house of 2 floors, 1 apartment and cellar. lst floor: 3 rooms, kitchen, hall larder, bath, w.c. corridor. 2nd. floor: 6 rooms bath and w.c. corridor and terrace. Cellar: 3 store rooms. 1 shed with loft.
56.	Plot
57.	Plot
58.	Road
59.	Road
60.	Road
61.	Road
62.	Road
63.	Road

UN Palestine Commission – Communications received Secretariat Advance Party – Accommodation of the Commission

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