Editorial Note

The Palestine Conciliation Commission sent its third progress report from Lausanne on June 13. Mr. Hare, on June 17, transmitted a summary to the Department, noting that the report covered the period from April 9 to the departure of Mr. Ethridge from Lausanne. He described the conclusions of the report as follows:

“Immediate problem facing PCC consists in linking together negotiations on refugee problem and territorial questions. Pressure exerted by Arab delegations in favor of negotiations on refugee question combined with Israeli pressure in favor of territorial negotiations threaten to create situation in which it would be difficult to arrive at agreement on solution of these fundamental problems. PCC concentrating for moment on this problem. PCC is endeavoring to arrest tendency by leading respective delegations to discuss refugee and territorial questions. Solution must relate not only to general aspect including repatriation, resettlement and rehabilitation but also to more immediate and no less important preliminary measures re safeguarding of refugee rights and property.” (telegram 608, identified also as Palun 216, from Geneva, 501.BB. Palestine/6–1749)

The text of the third progress report is printed in GA, 4th sess., Ad Hoc Political Committee, Annex, Volume II, page 5.