501.BB Palestine/3–2748: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin)
170. For Austin from Lovett.
- 1.
- The President’s statement on Palestine March 25 makes amply clear urgent necessity for United States to exert every effort in SC to have a truce arranged between Jews and Arabs of Palestine. It is essential that representatives of JA and AHC state in SC their views on a possible truce.
- 2.
- Such a truce should be based on two fundamental considerations:
- (a)
- It is absolutely essential that the violence and bloodshed cease in order that international peace may not be gravely endangered, particularly after May 15.
- (b)
- Both JA and AHC must be prepared to accept truce arrangements which would not prejudice claims of either group at future date when atmosphere may be more conducive to peaceful solution of problem.
- 3.
- Following draft resolution on truce is sent for your guidance. You
are authorized, however, to use broad discretion in final drafting
terms in order to secure maximum support of other delegations for
President’s proposal.
“The Security Council, in the exercise of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security,
Notes with grave concern the increasing violence and disorder in Palestine and believes that it is of the utmost urgency that an immediate truce be effected in Palestine;
Calls Upon the Jewish Agency for Palestine and the Arab Higher Committee to make available representatives to meet at once with the Security Council for the purpose of arranging a truce between the Arab and Jewish communities of Palestine;
Calls Upon Arab and Jewish armed groups in Palestine to cease acts of violence forthwith;1 and finally,
Calls Upon all governments, peoples, and groups, within and outside of Palestine, to prevent by all lawful means, and not to commit any act or acts which would further aggravate the situation in Palestine.”
- 4.
- Resolution on truce should be submitted in SC Tuesday. In discussing its terms with other
delegations you should also state US believes SC must also proceed rapidly with consideration of
“Additional Conclusions and Recommendations Concerning Palestine”
contained in your statement to SC
afternoon of March 19. In particular we feel that it is essential
for SC to request SYG to convoke special session of
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GA to consider further question of
future government of Palestine. Accordingly you should also submit
on Tuesday the following additional resolution:
“The Security Council,
Having on December 9, 1947, received the Resolution of the General Assembly concerning Palestine dated November 29, 1947, and
Having taken note of the United Nations Palestine Commission’s First and Second Monthly Progress Reports and First Special Report on the Problem of Security, and
Having on March 5, 1948, called on the permanent members of the Council to consult, and
Having taken note of the reports made concerning those consultations,
Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with Article 20 of the UN Charter, to convoke a Special Session of the General Assembly to consider further the question of the future Government of Palestine.”
- 5.
- Dept believes it more desirable not to mention trusteeship in resolution set forth in preceding paragraph. However, when introducing resolution in SC you should reiterate US position contained in your statement March 19, and reaffirmed in that of Secretary in Los. Angeles March 20 and of President on March 25 that a temporary trusteeship should be established in order to maintain the peace and that it would be without prejudice to character of final political settlement. We believe a trusteeship is essential to establish conditions of order which are essential to a peaceful solution. We are not incorporating reference to trusteeship in our resolution at this time, however, as we believe SC may wish to discuss proposal further. Resolution on trusteeship can be introduced at later stage following further SC discussion.
- 6.
- Additional points regarding terms and type of trusteeship US would consider favorable will be forwarded to you as soon as possible.2 [Lovett.]