UN Palestine Commission – Food supply position in Palestine – Letter from United Kingdom

26 March 1948

UNITED NATIONS PALESTINE COMMISSION

Communication Received from United. Kingdom Delegation

Concerning Food Supply Position in Palestine

The following communication, concerning certain representations made by the Jewish Agency to the Mandatory Power with reference to the food supply position in Palestine has been received from Mr. Fletcher-Cooke of the United Kingdom Delegation.

UNITED KINGDOM DELEGATION TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Empire State Building

New York 1, N.Y.

My dear Bunche,

May I refer to my letter of the 18th March and previous correspondence on the subject of the food supply position in Palestine.

2. I have been asked to bring to the notice of the Commission certain representations which the Jewish Agency have made to the Government of Palestine and which are as follows:-

(a) In respect of the area proposed for the Jewish State in the General Assembly’s resolution, together with the Jewish part of Jerusalem, the Jewish Agency would be prepared to accept responsibility for the distribution of and payment for food supplies procured in bulk.

(b) The Jewish Agency could not at present finance the initial purchasing but would, if necessary, enter into a bond through the Banks to meet all the costs involved after they had had an opportunity to distribute the food, stuffs and collect payment in Palestine.

(c) The Jewish Agency would regard themselves as financially liable with effect from the time the goods were landed at a port in Palestine, provided that deliveries at Haifa did not exceed 50% of the total and that as such as possible should be delivered at Tel Aviv.

3. It is felt that this information should be conveyed to the Commission since, if they were desirous of making use of this offer and could arrange for the initial financing of purchases, they might wish to suggest a reduction in the quantities of food where (at least for Jewish areas) in respect of which it is proposed to grant in licences.

Yours sincerely

(signed) J. FLETCHER-COOKE

(Fletcher-Cooke)

Dr. Ralph J. Bunche

Principal Secretary to the Palestine Commission

United Nations, Lake Success.