After a prolonged discussion this morning the United Nations Political Committee elected a sub-committee of eight member states to study all proposals before the body for effecting a final solution of the Palestine question. The group is to prepare a working paper on the proposals for consideration by the General Committee tomorrow.
The group, which consists of Britain, the United States, Guatemala, Australia, Colombia, Poland, the Soviet Union and Syria, met this afternoon under the chairmanship of Selim Sarper of Turkey, rapporteur of the Political Committee. The vote to establish the body–which consists of all the states which have offered either resolutions or amendments to resolutions on the Palestine question–was 24 for, six against, and 14 abstentions. The Composition of the group was suggested yesterday by the Canadian delegate.
This morning, Faris el Khouri of Syria, introduced a final draft resolution. It called on the General Assembly to establish a five-nation commission to study the Palestine issue on the spot and to prepare proposals for the establishment of a single state for the whole of Palestine, either on the basis of cantonization or federalization.
U.S. DETERMINED TO STAND BY ALL ITS AMENDMENTS
During the debate in the Political Committee today, Philip Jessup of the United States, reminded the body that it should keep in mind that it is still concerned with basic objectives in the consideration of the Palestine case. These he listed as: 1. Establishment of peace in Palestine; 2. Early attainment of a political settlement; and, 3. Reconciliation between the Jews and Arabs
Turning to the question of the resolutions before the Political Committee, the American delegate said that is government appreciates that the British have in-corporated several American amendments in their latest version or the MoNeil resolution, However, one amendment, which the U.S. considers most important, has not been included.
This one, he said, asks the Assembly “to call upon the governments and authorities concerned to extend the scope of the negotiations provided for in the Security Council resolution of Nov. 16 to seek an agreement by negotiations conducted either directly or through the conciliation commission with a view a view to a final settlement of all outstanding questions between them.”
Jessup, who left no doubt as to the determination of the United States to stand by all its original amendments, declared that his government considers that its amendments to the British proposal represent at this moment universal public opinion. The Anglo-American proposals represent the Assembly’s opinions, he continued. He also asserted that under the American-amended British resolution the Arabs could not claim that they had been compelled to negotiate under duress.
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