U.S. Mission of Christian Leaders Rejects Internationalization of Jerusalem

A fact-finding mission of Christian leaders and spokesmen, sent to Israel to investigate the feasibility of the internationalization plan for Jerusalem, today made public its findings at a press conference held under the auspices of the American Christian Palestine Committee, sponsoring group of the investigatory commission.

The fact-finding mission’s report, which was unanimous, concluded primarily that “the United Nations plan to internationalize the Jerusalem area is dangerous and unnecessary,” and recommended that a United Nation’s commission “with no territorial sovereignty” be established in order to insure the free accessibility of the Christian world to the Holy Places of Jerusalem.

“Guarantees should be given to such a commission by both Jordan and Israel, assuring the freedom and sanctity of the sacred places within their territories. This is all that the Christian world has a right to require of two sovereign states, which we believe will in time compose their differences. This making of the peace will be accomplished all the more speedily if Israel and Jordan are encouraged in their negotiations by the western powers,” the report emphasized.

The investigation commission which was composed of persons occupying leading positions in the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and congregational denominations, transmitted its report to Secretary of State Dean Acheson; Roger Garreau, president of the U.N. Trusteeship Council; and Francis B. Sayre, U.S. delegate to the Trusteeship Council.

The Jerusalem investigation group disclosed that while it was in Israel and the Holy City, it had discussed the problem of internationalization with representatives of the Coptic Church, the Greek Catholic Church, the Copt Catholic Church, the Roman Catholic Church, ministers of Protestant groups, and with Jews and Arabs. From these discussions, the fact-finding mission was able to conclude, according to its report, that the U.N. plan was unworkable.