USUN Files
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Henderson) to the Under Secretary of State (Lovett)
During the past few weeks there has been increasing discussion in the press and among the delegates at Flushing and Lake Success (but not officially in the United Nations itself), with regard to the present danger of civil strife to the Holy City of Jerusalem.
[Page 834]These discussions indicate two main lines of approach:
- (1)
- Immediate dispatch of security forces by the United Nations to Jerusalem as suggested by members of the French Delegation (USUN Telegrams Nos. 457 and 458 of April 16,1 copies of which are attached);
- (2)
- The setting up of a temporary trusteeship or some other form of interim government by the United Nations for the City of Jerusalem only.
I am also attaching a copy of Deptel No. 228 of April 182 in which it is stated that the main United States effort in the United Nations should be concentrated on the achievement of a temporary trusteeship for all of Palestine rather than for security measures or a temporary trusteeship in a part of Palestine. It also stated that in discussions between members of the United States Delegation and other delegations it would be helpful to obtain suggestions regarding a temporary trusteeship for Jerusalem as a preliminary to or part of a temporary trusteeship for all of Palestine. It is believed that if we approach the immediate problem of Jerusalem in this manner we will increase the likelihood of support for a trusteeship for all of Palestine and at the same time develop constructive suggestions with regard to the City of Jerusalem.
It is my thought that if the United Nations should give all of its attention to Jerusalem, we may end up with interim governmental machinery for Jerusalem and with no form of government for the rest of Palestine following the termination of the British Mandate on May 15. In such eventuality, I can envisage a situation, as has previously occurred in China and in Morocco, in which conditions of anarchy and famine would prevail beyond the borders of a restricted international area with thousands of refugees pouring into the area to obtain emergency protection, food and housing. If a situation of this character should develop in Palestine and if refugees from all parts of Palestine descended upon Jerusalem, the difficulties which would confront the United Nations administration would be almost insuperable.
If a special area for Jerusalem were extended to the coast to include the ports of Tel Aviv and Jaffa, conditions would undoubtedly be alleviated; nevertheless, I feel we should be under no misapprehension regarding the difficult financial and administrative problems which would confront the United Nations. It is for this reason I recommend that we should continue to stress and support the necessity for a temporary trusteeship for all of Palestine rather than for a [Page 835] restricted part of that country. At the same time I agree that, as a last resort, we should be preparing plans within the Department for the protection of Jerusalem and environs in case all else fails.