Unscop Partitionists Approaching Agreement; Drafting Plan for General Assembly

After weeks of wrangling, the seven-delegate majority of the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine was tonight approaching an agreement on the form and substance of partition, the principle of which they have already agreed upon. A coherent plan for submission to the General Assembly is now being whipped into shape.

Meanwhile, the nine basic principles on which both the advocates of partition and the supporters of federation agree were learned today. They are:

1. Palestine alone cannot solve the world Jewish problem.

2. Whatever the solution, it must be final.

3. Palestine cannot become an all-Arab state.

4. Palestine cannot become an all-Jewish state.

5. Palestine must ultimately have independence.

6. The British mandate must be terminated.

7. The transition period must be the shortest possible period.

8. The mandatory power (Britain) must carry out the UNSCOP recommendations with the assistance of one or more members of the United Nations.

9. Cooperation between the Jewish and Arab sections of Palestine is of absolute necessity.

The majority report will recommend the partition of Palestine into independent Jewish and Arab states bound together by a close economic treaty, according to forecasts here. The report will propose a two-year interim period prior to establishment of the independent states by September, 1949, during which 150,000 Jews should be admitted into the Jewish area.

TEN-YEAR ECONOMIC TREATY BETWEEN JEWISH AND ARAB STATES STIPULATED

The committee’s partitionists base their conclusions on the fact that, regardless of the promises made in the past to both Jews and Arabs and the historical rights both claim, Jewish immigration into Palestine must be separated from any decisions by an Arab state while Arab fears of further Jewish encroachment must be removed.

The independence of the proposed new Jewish and Arab states would be recognized, according to the report, only after the two new states accepted a 10-year treaty of economic collaboration and gave specific pledges to the United Nations.

Each state will have a legislative body elected on the basis of proportional representation and an executive body responsible to the legislature. Their constitutions will be drawn up by constitutional assemblies elected by all persons over 20 who are Palestine citizens of either state.

It will be mandatory for the constitutions to declare that the state will not use force or the threat of force to settle international disputes, and to pledge that the state will carry out recommendations of the Economic Board which are adopted by a majority vote. No projects for the development of Palestine will be taken up without agreement by both states.

The problem of economic viability of the two new states – which the pro-partitionists found to be one of their biggest headaches – would be solved, according to the expected majority report, by creating an economic union under a board composed of Arabs, Jews and appointees of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. This board would control the port of Haifa, the proposed customs union, the Palestine railways and communications and irrigation and reclamation projects. At the same time that the two independent states would be set up, an autonomous zone including Jerusalem would also be established.

JEWISH AGENCY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ABSORPTION OF IMMIGRANTS

During the interim period, 150,000 Jews would be admitted into Palestine, into the Jewish state area on the understanding that the Jewish Agency for Palestine would be responsible for their absorption, that illegal immigration would be stopped and that the United Nations might be asked to halt illegal immigration. If such immigration should continue, the total of those entering the country illegally would be pucted from the two-year quota of 150,000.

No Jow could be settled in the Arab territory nor any Arabs in the Jewish territory during this interim period. The residents of both states, however, would be permitted to move freely in the territory of the other. After the interim period, each state would have the right to decide on the issuance of residential permits. after independence of the two states would be recognized, Arabs and Jews would become citizens of the states in which they reside with the right to opt, after one year, for citizenship in the other state.

Minorities in each state would be protected and enjoy freedom of language, worship and speech. Each state would be bound to ensure schools for its minorities ## their own language and culture.

Any one of the United Nations would be authorized to call to the attention of the General Assembly any violations of the agreement; for instance, violation of the guarantee of minority rights or any other binding obligations between the two states. If a dispute arose as to interpretation of the facts, the case would go to the International Court of Justice.

The full Committee report, which awaits the 11 signatures, is divided into four general sections: the basic points of agreement;the political and social background of the Palestine problem; the majority proposal and the minority proposal, although some delegates think the report can be completed and signed by tomorrow or Sunday, others believe that a few more days will be necessary.