U.s., Soviet Agree on Implementation; Ask Mandate’s End by May 1, Independence by July 1

A ten-point plan which bridges the gap between the American and Soviet proposals for implementation of Palestine partition was agreed on this afternoon in the four-nation working group. The plan, which was based chiefly on Russian modifications of the Canadian compromise proposal, was hailed by other delegations and by leaders of the Jewish Agency as paving the way for approval of a Jewish state at the current session of the U.N. General Assembly. It provides for the following steps:

1. The mandate for Palestine shall terminate by May 1, 1948 and the armored forces of the Mandatory power shall be withdrawn by that date.

2. The independent Arab and Jewish states shall come into existence in Palestine July 1, 1948, or at such earlier date subsequent to May 1 as the United Nations commission, referred to below, recommends and the Security Council approves as desirable and practicable.

3. A commission shall be appointed by the General Assembly of three to five members representing small powers. (These powers are to be chosen among those favoring the partition plan.)

4. The functions of the commission shall be to implement the measures recommended by the General Assembly as follows: (Details to be decided later, taking into consideration the recommendation of the UNSCOP report, the Soviet proposals of November 3, and any other proposal that may be submitted during discussion.)

5. The commission shall assist the Mandatory in the performance of its functions up to the termination of the Mandate.

6. The commission shall be responsible for the administration of Palestine in the period, if any, between the termination of the Mandate and the establishment of the two independent states.

7. The commission shall act under the authority and guidance of the Security Council.

8. The commission shall be guided in its activities by the recommendations of the General Assembly, and by such specific instructions within the purview of recommendations of the General Assembly as the Security Council may consider necessary to issue.

9. The commission shall render periodic monthly progress reports or more frequently, if desirable, to the Security Council. (Further clarification of the last two points may be made by the working group.)

10. During the period between adoption by the General Assembly of the resolution on Palestine and the termination of the Mandate, the Mandatory Power shall be re- quested by the General Assembly to continue to be responsible for the maintenance of ?aw and order and the conduct of essential public services in Palestine.

BRITISH DELEGATE IS NON-COMMITTAL; WILL CONVEY PROPOSALS TO LONDON

John H. Martin, British observer on the Ad Hoc Committee, declaring that “these proposals have certain implications not without interest to my government, said that he would communicate them to London before making any definite comment, but, mean{SPAN}##bile,{/SPAN} asked for clarification on two points:

1. Would all British troops be withdrawn by May 1 or there be a progressive reduction with sufficient troops still remaining by May 1 to maintain order up to that date?

2. What kind of assistance would the U.N. commission give the Mandatory in the performance of its functions?

U.S. delegate Herschel V. Johnson, replying to the first question, said that it was obvious that withdrawal of the British troops must be “by degrees,” since large numbers of troops cannot be removed from Palestine in one day. There should be enough troops left to maintain order until May 1, after which date the remainder should be removed as soon as possible, he said, adding that he foresaw no difficulty in doing this.

Soviet delegate Semyon Tsarapkin, who also answered this point, said that the agreement visualizes the gradual evacuation of troops but that on May 1 none should remain. If it becomes necessary for some soldiers to continue their stay beyond that date, the matter must be decided by an agreement between the Mandatory and the U.N. commission, he added. He said that he expects no trouble in Palestine after May 1 because by that time the armed milities of the two states would be functioning and the two governments would be prepared to take over their administrative functions.

In response to Martin’s second question, Guatemalan delegate Jorge Garcia-Granados said that, for example, the armed militia, suggested in the tenth point of the Soviet proposal, could render assistance to the Mandatory in maintaining peace and security. The U.N. commission, Granados said, may also assist the Mandatory in the administration of public services.

SHORTOK ASKS CLARIFICATION ON FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF U.N. BODY

After expressing admiration for the results achieved by the working group, Moshe Shertok, Jewish Agency political chief, asked the following questions: 1. When will the U.N. commission arrive in Palestine and begin its work? 2. Will the UNSCOP recommendations for abolition of land purchase restrictions be carried out by the commission or the Mandatory? 3. Will the training and equipment of the armed milities be carried out by the commission alone or with the assistance of the Mandatory?

Tearapkin replied to Shertok, declaring that the commission will leave for Palestine as soon as it is appointed by the Assembly, that the figure of 6,000 immigrants admitted to the Jewish state area monthly and abolition of the land restrictions will stand as recommended by UNSCOP, and that the commission alone will be responsible for raising, arming and equipping the milities.

The Canadian delegate said that the UNSCOP recommendations, particularly as they refer to immigration, need modification. Johnson assured the Jewish Agency that all questions of Jewish interest raised in the UNSCOP report would be handled in their proper perspective. Finally, he stressed that the American delegation is extremely interested in establishing the relations between the commission and the Country Council and in clarifying the commission’s terms of reference so as to present any confusion as to its freedom of action.