U.n Committee Defers Decision on Visiting Dp’s Until Completion of Palestine Hearings

The U.N. inquiry committee on Palestine today decided to defer a final decision on visiting the camps for displaced Jews in Europe until it completes hearings in Palestine.

At a public meeting in the afternoon the committee elected Chief Justice ##il Sandstroem of Sweden as its permanent chairman. Senator Alberto Ulloa of Peru##as elected vice-chairman.

The committee adopted unanimously rules governing the taking of written and oral testimony. Flexible in character they allow the committee full scope and freedom of action as regards the time and place of taking testimony. They reserve the right to turn over the testimony for screening to a sub-committee. The only positive restriction placed on those who wish to be heard orally is that they state in advance the subject on which they desire to present evidence.

It was obvious, however, that the time-factor would set a limit on New York organizations. This was made clear to them in a letter they will receive inviting them to state their views in writing, with the reservation that their request for oral hearings will be subject to the discretion–and the time– of the comittee. These requests must be submitted in 30 copies on or before June 6.

JEWISH AGENCY, PALESTINE ARABS CAN APPOINT LIAISON OFFICERS

The inquiry body decided to accord the Jewish Agency, Britain and the Arab Higher Commitee the right to appoint liaison officers to the committee. The rights of these officers were flexibly defined to include furnishing of information and ?rendering of any assistance the committee may require. The liations officers may also “on their own initiative” supply information at the discretion of the committee.

This decision was taken over the Persistent objections of Austrailia’s delegate, John Hood, who warned that the rights of or restrictions on the officers should be more specifically defined.

The committee completed today’s session in 90 minutes, working rapidly under the chairmanship of Judge Sandstroem. It will meet in closed session tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Faris el Khouri, Syrian member of the Security Council and chief Arab spokesman at the U.N., today announced that he was protesting to U.N. Secretary-General Trygve Lie aginst alleged “pro-Zionist” bais in the 1,000 pages of printed matter prepared by the U.N. secreatarit as background material for the inquiry commission. Khouri said that the documents presented too favorable a picture of Jewish developments in Palestine and Placed too much emphasis on President Truman’s various statements on Palestine, without giving equal space to Arab declarations.