U.N. Council Gets Plan to Leave Part of Jerusalem Under Jewish Administration

A plan for organizing the territory of Jerusalem as a “corpus separatum” under the general sovereignty of the United Nations, but at the same time dividing the territory into three portions to be administered respectively by Israel, Jordan and the U.N. was today presented to the U.N. Trusteeship Council by its president, Roger Garreau of France.

The “corpus separatum,” Ambassador Garreau proposed, would be established within the boundaries envisaged by the U.N. General Assembly decision to internationalizs Jerusalem. It would be under an international regime which would ensure the demilitarization and neutralization of the area. In addition, the territory would be constituted as an economic free zone with neither Israel nor Jordan having any power to collect duties on goods entering or leaving any part of the zone. Freedom of movement and access to the Holy Places in the territory would be guaranteed.

Under Ambassador Garreau’s plan practically the entire new city would be placed under the authority and administration of Israel, together with the central railway station and the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv railroad. Two Arab quarters of the Old City, together with the Harem Al Sherif, Wadi el Joz and Ab el Zahira sections, as well as the entire American Colony, the Jerioho Road, the Nablus Road to the north of the Sheikh Jarrach quarter and the Hebron Road to the southern portion of Bethlehem would be placed under the authority and administration of Jordan.

The final section of the zone would be organized as an “International City” under the collective sovereignty of the United Nations and the administration of the Trusteeship Council which would appoint as its representative a Governor of the Holy Places. The historical basis of the “International City” is a decree of 1757 of the Turkish Empire.

HEBREW UNIVERSITY TO REMAIN IN U.N. ZONE; DISCUSSION ADJOURNED FOR A WEEK

The sector under U.N. administration would embrace an area taken in almost equal part from armistice-defined ocoupation zones held by Israel and Jordan. Included in this area would be: the Walling Wall; the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; all of Mt. Zion; the Mount of Olives; and, Mt. Scopus, including the road to the height and the Hadassah Hospital and Hebrew University. The actual territory to be taken from Israel and Jordan to make up the “International City” has not yet been defined.

Following an attack on the Garreau working paper by the Iraqi delegate to the Council, the members of that body voted to adjourn all discussion of the proposal until next Monday. The Philippine delegate supported the Iraqi opposition to the plan. The Council also decided to hear all interested parties during the debate on the future of Jerusalem, but would not extend a special invitation to either Israel or Jordan.

(The State Department is attempting to convince the Israel Government to accept the Garreau plan, promising that far reaching changes will be made in it, it was learned in Tel Aviv today. The Israel Government, however, has refused to enter into any negotiations on the proposal. Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett will appear before Parliament tomorrow to report on the situation in relation to the plan.)

INHABITANTS OF U.N. ZONE MAY CHOOSE “INTERNATIONAL CITY” CITIZENSHIP

Under the plan presented today by Mr. Garreau to the Trusteeship Council, the inhabitants of the “International City” could either retain their present nationality or opt for citizenship of the “International City.” They would elect, by universal suffrage, a municipal council whose composition would be determined in such a manner as would ensure equitable representation of the various religions, and which would administer the “International City” under the supervision of the Holy Places Governor. The Governor would accredit representatives to Israel and Jordan to ensure protection in those states of the interests of the “International City” and its citizens.

The Governor would be assisted by an advisory council whose main function would be to ensure good relations between the various religions and to settle religious disputes. He would also exercise, on behalf of the United Nations, the right to protect the Holy Places, religious institutions and sites situated outside the city in any part of Palestine. The Governor would direct the external affairs of the “International City” and would have at his disposal an international police force recruited by him without distinction as to nationality.

The statute would remain in force for a period of ten years, unless the Council thought it necessary to review its provisions at an earlier date, in which case the Council would amend those provisions as it thought fit. On the expiration of the ten-year period, the whole of the statute would be reviewed by the Trusteeship Council in the light of the experience acquired during the application of its provision. The population of the “International City” would then be entitled to make known by referendum, their views on possible changes in the regime of the city, and the Council would in due course prescribe procedure for the carrying out of the referendum.