U.S. Back Bernadotte’s Proposals; Marshall Urges Acceptance “in Their Entirety”

The U.S. Government went on record today as fully backing the recommendations on Palestine made by the late Count Folke Bernadotte in his report to the U.N. Security Council, the text of which was made public yesterday. The State Department today released the text of a statement issued by Secretary of State George C. Marshall in Paris which emphasizes that the U.S, Government will urge the U.N. General Assembly, as well as the Jews and the Arabs, to accept these recommendations “in their entirety. “

The text of Secretary Marshall’s statement reads:

“The United States considers that the conclusions contained in the final report of Count Bernadotte offer a generally fair basis for settlement of the Palestine question. My government is of the opinion that the conclusions are sound and strongly urges the parties and the General Assembly to accept them in their entirety as the best possible basis for bringing peace to a distracted land.

“No plan could be proposed which would be entirely satisfactory in all respects to every interested party. The United Nations had endeavored to achieve a solution by peaceful adjustment and entrusted the task to its mediator, Count Bernadotte. He energetically, courageously and with a spirit of complete fairness, we feel, canvassed all the possibilities and proposed as his last contribution towards a world of peace a sound basis for settlement. He gave his life to this effort.

“The complexities of the problem and the violent emotions which have been engendered are such that the details of any plan could be debated endlessly. As a matter of fact, the debate on this question has been carried on for years in almost every kind of public forum. It is our sincere hope that the parties concerned will realize that their best interests and the interests of the world-community will be served by accepting in a spirit of fair compromise the Judgment of Count Bernadotte.”

STATE DEPT. IS ADVISED BY ISRAEL ON MEASURES TAKEN TO PROTECT U.S. ENVOY

The State Department today revealed that it has been advised by the Israeli Government of measures taken to protect James. G. MacDonald, American special representative to Israel, against possible terrorist action.

A special police guard was placed around MacDonald’s residence in Tel Aviv following the assassination of Bernadotte, the American mission to Israel reported.

A State Department spokesman said both James G. MacDonald and John Joseph MacDonald, U.S. Consul-General at Jerusalem, had been advised to take precautions to protect themselves. The Department had no indication that they feel themselves to be in special danger, however, he said.