Delegations of the four Arab countries neighboring on Israel discussion themselves today from dealing with the question of territorial adjustment in Palestine which had been scheduled for discussion with the United Nations Conciliation Commission.
The delegations of Syria, Transjordan, Egypt and Lebanon informed the Commission that while they recognized that they were bound by the U.N. General Assembly resolution of May 12 to discuss territorial questions, they wanted first to raise an issue that is “more urgent” to then. They asked what had happened to, two Arab memoranda submitted to the Commission on compensation measures for the Arab refugees and on the repatriation of Arabs to Israel.
The Commission informed the Arab states that Israel had made no formal reply. The ensuing discussion took up all available time end the territorial subject was not broached. The Arabs evidently intend to keep to this approach and thus postpone indefinitely definitely discussion of the next topic on the agenda. The Commission will meet privately early next week in order to consider the Israeli proposals for changes in the Commission’s procedure.
The commission today agreed upon the terms of reference to govern its technical committee, which will depart for the Middle East tomorrow, The technical committee fighting, their places of origin and their means of subsistence. In addition, the committee is to report on the number of refugees who want to return to Israel and is to propose practical undertakings for immediate “work relief” for then.
In Israel, the special U.N. committee is to investigate the practical possibilities of Arab repatriation and resettlement and survey the present condition of Arab-owned properties. A commission spokesman said today that the technical committee was expected to make a report between six and eight weeks hence but had also been instructed to make interim reports before it draws up its final conclusions, Restart Gundy, representing the United States on the committee, and Jean Lucas, its French member, will leave Lausanne tomorrow and will join forces at Beirut with Rifti Zorlu, the Turkish delegate.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
