867N.01/12–1045
The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador ( Halifax )
Excellency: I have the honor to inform Your Excellency, with reference to our conversations on the subject, that the Government of the United States agrees to constitute, in cooperation with the Government of the United Kingdom, a joint Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry with the following terms of reference.
- 1.
- To examine political, economic and social conditions in Palestine as they bear upon the problem of Jewish immigration and settlement therein and the well-being of the peoples now living therein;
- 2.
- To examine the position of the Jews in the those countries in Europe where they have been the victims of Nazi and Fascist persecution, and the practical measures taken or contemplated to be taken in those countries to enable them to live free from discrimination and oppression and to make estimates of those who wish or will be impelled by their conditions to migrate to Palestine or other countries outside Europe;
- 3.
- To hear the views of competent witnesses and to consult representative Arabs and Jews on the problems of Palestine as such problems are affected by conditions subject to examination under paragraphs 1 and 2 above and by other relevant facts and circumstances, and to make recommendations to the Governments of the United States and of the United Kingdom for ad interim handling of these problems as well as for their permanent solution; and
- 4.
- To make such other recommendations to the Governments of the United States and of the United Kingdom as may be necessary to meet the immediate needs arising from conditions subject to examination under paragraph 2 above, by remedial action in the European countries in question or by the provision of facilities for emigration to and settlement in countries outside Europe.
The Committee should be composed of six nationals of the United States, appointed by the Government of the United States, and six nationals of the United Kingdom, appointed by the Government of the United Kingdom, and shall operate under a rotating chairmanship.
The Governments of the United States and of the United Kingdom shall urge on the Committee the need for the utmost expedition in dealing with the subjects committed to it for investigation and shall request that they may be furnished with its report within 120 days of the inception of the inquiry.
The procedure of the Committee shall be determined by the Committee itself and it will be open to it, if it thinks fit, to deal simultaneously through the medium of subcommittees, with any of the subjects entrusted to its consideration.
Each Government shall be responsible for compensating its own members of the Committee and other personnel selected by it and for [Page 840] paying such other expenses as are not susceptible of being jointly shared by the two Governments. All other expenses of the Committee shall be borne jointly by both Governments in equal proportions.
Accept [etc.]