U.N. Partition Sub-committee Appoints Group to Re-draft Boundaries of Jewish State

The U.N. sub-committee on partition today adjourned until Friday after appointing a three-man group to prepare a final draft of the boundaries of the proposed Jewish and Arab states, using the UNSCOP map as a basis.

Attending today’s closed session were Dr. Chaim Weizmann and Dr. Abba Hillel Silver. The Jewish Agency submitted to the sub-committee a memorandum on boundaries together with an accompanying map outlining the Jewish requests for modification of the boundaries proposed by the UNSCOP.

The group of three which is to re-draft the UNSCOP map is composed of Polish delegate, Ksawery Pruszynski, chairman of the sub-committee; Uruguayan delegate Prof. Enrique Fabregat, the sub-committee rapporteur; and Paul Mohn, who was the Swedish alternate on UNSCOP. They are expected to have their report ready by Friday.

U.S. EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER INCLUSION OF MANY ARABS IN JEWISH STATE

The question of boundaries occupied the principal attention of the members of the sub-committee during the afternoon session. During the discussion the United States expressed its concern over the inclusion in the proposed Jewish state of what they consider an over-large number of Arabs, and particularly as regards assignment of Jaffa to the Jewish territory. It was suggested by the United States that the American public might question the inclusion of so considerable an Arab minority in a Jewish state and that this could be rectified by territorial changes. However, no specific U.S. proposal was submitted.

The closed session this afternoon also considered the UNSCOP recommendation concerning referral of disputes about Holy Places, religious and minority rights, citizenship, etc., to the International Court of Justice. It also discussed the economic union, making only a few minor changes in each of the chapters on these subjects.

Since the time limit for submission of reports by both the partition and Arab sub-committees to the Ad Hoc Committee expired today, Chairman Herbert Evatt extended the deadline without fixing a new date, but it is hoped that by Monday the reports will be ready and presented to the Ad Hoc Committee for discussion.

During today’s discussions it became obvious from remarks made by the American delegates that the U.S. would like to see Britain retain its predominant position in Palestine during the transition period. It is understood that negotiations to this effect are being carried on between Washington and London.

The sub-committee dealing with coordinating the Arab proposals today completed drafting a plan for “rapid absorption” of displaced Jews by all member states of the United Nations. Dr. Evatt, who together with the delegates from Siam and Ice ##land, is to confer with Jews and Arabs on conciliation, today refused to comment on wether he has made any move in this direction. However, it was indicated in U.N. ## circles that little can be expected from the conciliation discussions.