501.BB Palestine/6–1147: Telegram

The Consul General at Jerusalem ( Macatee ) to the Secretary of State

confidential

243. Local Arab reaction to decision of [Arab] Higher Committee to boycott UNSCOP 1 is thus far unfavorable. Jamal Husseini and Faris [el-] Khouri are in Jerusalem and are giving following reasons for decision to prominent Arabs:

1.
Policy procrastination through investigating committees well understood by Arabs; their rights need no bargaining or confirmation.
2.
Omission provision for independence from Committee’s terms of reference.
3.
Connection Palestine with displaced persons problem.
4.
Insufficient eastern representation on Committee and membership thereon of countries “in direct relations with Jews, Americans and British whose sentiments toward Arabs well known”.
5.
Insertion religious matters in terms of reference for purposes justification British remaining in Palestine.
6.
Handling of matter in special assembly was Sufficient to create apprehension.

Jamal Husseini reliably reported to have informed Arab gathering last night that information from New York indicates Committee already decided on position. Aranha alleged to have informed Arab delegate that while he personally understood Arab rights in matter, his Government and that of US and British had already formed opinion in favor partition. Husseini also alleged that this is reason Faris [el-] Khouri favors boycott.

Strong indications Arab Communists will not boycott.

Macatee
  1. In a letter of June 13 to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Jamal Husseini as Vice Chairman of the Arab Higher Committee announced that the Palestinian Arabs would abstain from collaborating with the Special Committee and would not appear before it; for text, see UNSCOP , vol. ii, p. 5.