Unscop in Final Stages of Palestine Inquiry; Sub-committee Reports on European Dp Camps

As the final step got under way toward preparing recommendations for the U.N. General Assembly meeting in September, the U.N.’s Special Committee on Palestine indicated this week-end that some form of partition into a Jewish and an Arab state would be its solution.

UNSCOP was considerably sobered by the report of three members of a sub-committee which just returned from a tour of displaced persons camps. The report by Prof. Enrique Fabregat of Uruguay, John D. L. Hood of Australia and Jorge Garcia Granados of Guatemala was described as “most effective.” However, the question of the British attutude was still a dominant factor in UNSCOP’s discussions.

The UN group hopes Britain will accept its recommendations on Palestine and is determined to make acceptable suggestions, it has been learned on reliable authority. If a vote were taken today, a majority of the committee would favor partition on principle. The major stumbling-block is how to establish two viable states. They feel this is what they must solve. Many members believe that it would be possible to form a viable Jewish state, having control of immigration. Creation of a viable Arab state is another matter. Also UNSCOP does not feel that its terms of reference would permit the recommendation of attachment of the Arab community to Transjordan as part of Abdullah’s kingdom, as he urged.

The members question whether this proposal would be possible within the terms of the U.N. Charter and intimate that it would be improper and immoral to make such suggestions. However, if two independent, viable states could be established, the delegates would be unanimously in favor of a confederation or union of these states, but they insist that it could not be imposed from without. It could only be achieved through agreement. Many delegates do not foresee any such agreement between the Jews and Arabs at this time. They ask:

“If the two states are sovereign, how can a third power force these sovereign states to federate?”

So far as the mandate is concerned, UNSCOP is deeply perplexed. The members’ point of view might be stated thus: The mandatory presented the Palestine problem to the UN with the request that it make recommendations for the future government of Palestine. Some delegates feel that the General Assembly cannot tell the mandatory to give up the mandate.

UNSCOP is aware that the General Assembly cannot carry out recommendations. Therefore it must make recommendations which have a realistic chance of being carried out. If the viability of both states could be assured, the committee might recommend that Britain, and perhaps the U.S., assume responsibility during a short transitory period.

One question which concerns some UNSCOP delegates involves the matter of immigration. If a possible Jewish state should be invested with complete control over immigration, the question goes, would it be able to stop a flood of people that might prove too tremendous for the state to take care of?