A resolution to refer the American trusteeship plan for Palestine to the Trusteeship Committee of the General Assembly “for study and recommendations to the Ly” was presented at today’s session of the Political Committee by U.S. delegate Dr. Philip C. Jessup.
Decision on the resolution was postponed by the Political Committee after chairman T.F. Tsiang ruled that so Tote could be taken because the resolution had not been circulated a foil day before the meeting, as provided in the roles of procedure.
At the same time, the U.N. Trusteeship Council today adopted a resolution postponing further action on the draft statute for Jerusalem and the appointment of a U.N. Governor-General for the internationalized city. The resolution, proposed by the United States and amended by Belgium, refers the question of formal approval of the draft statute for Jerusalem to the General Assembly “for such further instructions as the Assembly may see fit to give.”
Virtually freezing the work accomplished by the Trusteeship Council on the U.N. decision to declare Jerusalem an international city under the supervision of a United National Governor, the resolution emphasized that the Council “completed its discussion on the draft statute” and considers that “the statute is now in satisfactory form. “However, the Council will not take any action on its,” unless and until instructions are received from the General Assembly,” the resolution said.
The Australian representative strongly objected to the resolution and moved that the Council meet again next Wednesday “to take action with regard to the statute or the City of Jerusalem.” His motion, however, was defeated by a tie vote of three to three, with four abstentions. The council then adjourned, pending a possible call by the president for an additional meeting.
JEWISH AGENCY REJECTS AMERICAN TRUSTEESHIP PLAN FOR PALESTINE
The Jewish Agency in a memorandum made public today emphasized that “no improvement on the U.S. proposals can make them a useful starting point in the quest or a political settlement.” Analyzing the American trusteeship plan, the Agency memorandum warned against the pitfalls ahead and the endless chain of enforcement this plan would involve against the will of both Jews and Arabs.
“The question arises whether member states who were unwilling to use their forces to establish independence for Jews and Arabs within authoritatively defined limits will now commit their forces to military rule of ‘indefinite duration’ for the purpose of suppressing aspirations for independence recently approved by the United Nations,” the Agency document stated.
Although the Jewish Agency memorandum is not a direct statement on the position which the Jewish of Palestine will take with respect to a trusteeship decision by the General Assembly, the observations and criticism expressed therein are of such a nature as to leave no doubt of the Agency’s opposition to the U.S. trusteeship plan.
JEWS READY TO CEASE FIRE IF ARABS DO, BEN GURION CABLES TO U.N.
Meanwhile, Moshe Shertok today transmitted to the Security Council the text of a cable received earlier from David Ben Gurion, chairman of the Jewish Agency, which reads: “We informed the High Commissioner on April 10 that if Arabs cease fire, we shall act likewise. So far we have received no intimation from the High Commissioner that Arabs agreed. In fact, attacks continue without respite, particularly in Jerusalem. If fire ceases throughout the country, we shall naturally refrain from shooting.”
A spokesman for the U.S. delegation announced today that the U.S. would demand the immediate creation of a United Nations Palestine truce commission by the Security Council, with possible enforcement measures. The spokesman said that the U.S. will present its demand to the Security Council on Friday.
Meanvhile, Syria today became the first Arab state to voice support for the U.S. trusteeship plan. Syrian delegate Faris el ####, speaking at the Assembly’s Political Committee session, said, however, that the U.S. suggestion that trustee. ship for Palestine be administered by the U.N. as a ?hole was “absurd.” He proposed ##instead that one, two or three member states be named trustees and charged with responsibility for the plan’s enforcement.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
