U.S. Delegation Seen Using Compromise Tactics at U.N. Debate over Jerusalem Issue

Because of continuing criticism by several members of the United States delegation to the United Nations against the Conciliation Commission’s plan for Jerusalem, it now seems likely that the United States will pursue compromise tactics in the forthcoming General Assembly debate on the Jerusalem issue, it was learned today.

Final determination of the American position, not yet arrived at, is presently in the discussion stage both at delegation and State Department levels, it was said. Aubrey S. Eban, head of the Israel delegation, left for Washington today for a meeting with Assistant Secretary of State George C. McGhee, at which the whole subject of internationalization of Jerusalem was due to be discussed.

According to responsible American sources, the U.S. delegation is in substantial agreement that the draft of the Commission’s plan is unsatisfactorily vague in its wording. It is therefore considered probable that the U.S. will start off with an expression of support for the plan in general, but will back suggestions for redrafting the Commission’s instrument, especially in the direction of tightening the limitations on the authority of an international control organ for the city.

In some circles it is believed that the Commission’s internationalization plan cannot receive a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly. The United States, therefore, is seen as facing a problem of either accepting a plan restricted to the international protection of the Holy Places and the division of the city between Israel and Transjordan, or fighting the entire proposition.

U.S. participation in the Jerusalem debate, it was disclosed, will be led by John C. Ross, recently-appointed deputy to delegation chairman Warren A. Austin. Mr. Ross has been connected with the State Department since 1937 and was acting director of the Department’s office of special political affairs.

Best estimates are that the Jerusalem question will come up in the Assembly’s Special Political Committee on Monday. It is also anticipated that this question will be the last one to receive final action at this session.

It was learned that the U.N. Secretariat is considering releasing the first report of the Middle East Economic Survey Mission this Sunday. The report was turned over to the Secretariat earlier this week.