Palestine question/Cease-fire prolongation – Communication to all parties – Telegram from UN Mediator

TELEGRAM FROM THE UNITED NATIONS MEDIATOR

DATED 9 JULY 1948 ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

CONCERNING MEDIATOR'S APPEAL TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES

FOR ACCEPTANCE OF UNCONDITIONAL CEASE FIRE IN PALESTINE

FOR A PERIOD OF 10 DAYS

The following appeal has been communicated to all parties concerned by the Mediator on 9 July 1948:

"I FIND ITS IMPERATIVE TO PROCEED TO LAKE SUCCESS IMMEDIATELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRESENTING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL OF THE UNITED NATIONS A FULL REPORT OF MY NEGOTIATIONS AND THE ARAB AND JEWISH REPLIES TO MY SEVERAL PROPOSALS.  I AM PARTICULARLY AND MOST KEENLY DISAPPOINTED THAT MY PROPOSAL FOR A PROLONGATION OF THE TRUCE WAS NOT FAVOURABLY ACTED UPON BY THE ARAB REPRESENTATIVES.  IN THIS REGARD I MAY ALSO CALL ATTENTION TO THE RESOLUTION OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL OF 7 JULY ADDRESSING AN URGENT APPEAL TO THE INTERESTED PARTIES TO ACCEPT IN PRINCIPLE THE PROLONGATION OF THE TRUCE FOR SUCH PERIOD AS MAY BE DECIDED UPON IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MEDIATOR.  THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS NOW ACTIVELY AND URGENTLY ENGAGED IN THE CONSIDERATION OF APPROPRIATE STEPS LOOKING TOWARD AN ASSURANCE OF PEACE IN PALESTINE AND IT IS MY INTENTION TO PLACE MYSELF FULLY AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL TOWARDS THIS END.  I PLAN TO RETURN TO NEAR EAST FROM LAKE SUCCESS WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RESUMING MY EFFORTS AT MEDIATION.  FOR THE ABOVE REASONS IN THE INTEREST OF PEACE AND THE PEOPLES OF PALESTINE, ARABS AND JEWS ALIKE, AND WITH GRAVE CONCERN FOR THE PRESERVATION OF JERUSALEM I MAKE THIS APPEAL TO BOTH PARTIES WITH UTMOST URGENCY TO ACCEPT AN UNCONDITIONAL CEASE FIRE IN PALESTINE FOR A PERIOD OF TEN DAYS EXTENDING FROM TWELVE O'CLOCK NOON G.M.T., SATURDAY, TEN JULY 1948.  I EARNESTLY HOPE THAT BOTH PARTIES WILL DEMONSTRATE THEIR SINCERE DESIRE FOR PEACE IN PALESTINE BY ACCEPTING THIS URGENT APPEAL AND THAT THEIR ACCEPTANCE WILL BE NOTIFIED TO ME AT MY HEADQUARTERS AT RHODES AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE MOMENT.

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