U.N. Gets Peace Proposals Which Bernadotte Sent to Jews and Arabs; Details Kept Secret

U.N. secretary-General Trygve Lie today received from Count folke Bernadotte, U.N. mediator on Palestine, the text of the peace “suggestions” prepared by him at Rhodes for transmission to the Jews and the Arabs. The suggestions will remain a secret, since all parties involved have been asked by the U.N. mediator to refrain from making them public.

In his report to the U.N. secretariat, Bernadotte said that copies of his peace proposals will be in the hands of the Jews and the Arabs by tomorrow morning. U.N. emissaries carrying the text, he reported, left for Tel Aviv and Cairo simultaneously this morning. The liaison officers of Israel and of the Arab League left Rhodes today together with the U.N. emissaries for their respective capitals.

The U.N. mediator made it clear in his report that his proposals do not constitute a plan for a final peace settlement, but only a basis for further peace talks. He emphasized that he did not know himself at this stage whether he will ask for an extension of the truce.

This is interpreted here as meaning that Bernadotte will be guided in deciding his next step by the nature of the replies he receives from the Arabs and Jews. Should these be favorable, it is regarded here as unlikely that he can effect a final settlement in the remaining few days. Thus an extension would be regarded as inevitable.

Bernadotte reported that he will be in Rhodes for the next few days awaiting the two replies. However, he is ready to go to Cairo and Tel Aviv, if necessary, in order to iron out any differences which may arise over his Initial suggestions.