867N.01/1–2848
The Secretary of State to
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, at Hyde
Park
Washington, February 16,
1948.
Dear Mrs. Roosevelt: I have your two
letters1 giving me a frank expression of
your views on Palestine.
We are trying hard to formulate and follow policies with regard to
Palestine which would seem most likely to promote peace and maintain the
prestige and effectiveness of the United Nations. At the same time we
must not ignore the humanitarian aspects of the problem.
It is very unfortunate that the delicate situation in Palestine should be
made so explosive by the acts of terror and violence committed by both
Jewish and Arab elements. Their lack of restraint is not only increasing
human misery and suffering but also makes the implementation of the
General Assembly’s recommendations all the more difficult. The political
situation in this country does not help matters.
Since the appropriate organs of the United Nations are now dealing with
the Palestine question, we feel that so far as possible we should,
approach the problem through the United Nations rather than
unilaterally.
A decision by the United States, for instance, to permit American arms to
go to Palestine and neighboring states would facilitate acts of violence
and the further shedding of blood and thus render still more difficult
the task of maintaining law and order. We are continuing, therefore, to
refuse to license the shipment of arms to that area.
I am told that the United Nations Commission provided for in the November
29 resolution of the General Assembly will shortly make
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a supplementary report on the question of
security iii Palestine. It is to be hoped that the report will be of
genuine aid to the members of the United Nations in deciding upon a
practical course of action which gives some hope for a tranquil
solution.
Faithfully yours,
[Extracts]
First Special Report of the United Nations
Palestine Commission to the Security Council: The Problem of
Security in Palestine1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[II] 9. The main facts controlling the security situation in
Palestine today are the following:
- (a)
- Organized efforts are being made by strong Arab elements
inside and outside Palestine to prevent the implementation of
the Assembly’s plan of partition and to thwart its objectives by
threats and acts of violence, including armed incursions into
Palestinian territory.
- (b)
- Certain elements of the Jewish community in Palestine continue
to commit irresponsible acts of violence which worsen the
security situation, although that community is generally in
support of the recommendations of the Assembly.
- (c)
- An added complication is created by the fact that the
Mandatory Power, which remains responsible for law and order in
Palestine until the termination of the Mandate, is engaged in
the liquidation of its administration and is preparing for the
evacuation of its troops.
VIII. Conclusion
- 1.
- The pertinent facts in support of the Commission’s unavoidable
decision to call upon the Security Council for assistance in the
discharge of its duty to the General Assembly are evident. The
United Nations has taken a firm decision regarding the future
government of Palestine. Following that decision the General
Assembly created this Commission as its agent in the matter and
charged it with responsibility, under the guidance of the
Security Council, for implementing the Assembly’s
recommendations. This Commission now finds itself confronted
with an attempt to defeat its purposes, and to nullify the
resolution of the General Assembly.
- 2.
- For the above reasons the Commission has decided to refer to
the Security Council the problem of providing that armed
assistance which alone would enable the Commission to discharge
its responsibilities on the termination of the Mandate, because
it is convinced that there is no step which it can take under
the resolution of the Assembly to improve the security situation
in Palestine between now and the termination of the
Mandate.
- 3.
- The Commission realizes that time is a factor of utmost
importance in its endeavor to fulfil the mandate given to it by
the General Assembly. The Commission, therefore must emphasize
the compelling need for prompt action, in order to avert great
bloodshed and human suffering in Palestine, and to assist the
implementation of the resolution which the Commission,
notwithstanding all difficulties, is exerting every effort to
carry out.
- 4.
- In the view of the Commission, a basic issue of international
order is involved. A dangerous and tragic precedent will have
been established if force, or the threat of the use of force, is
to prove an effective deterrent to the will of the United
Nations.
- 5.
- It is the considered view of the Commission that the security
forces of the Mandatory Power, which at the present time prevent
the situation from deteriorating completely into open warfare on
an organized basis, must be replaced by an adequate
non-Palestinian force which will assist law-abiding elements in
both the Arab and Jewish communities, organized under the
general direction of the Commission, in maintaining order and
security in Palestine, thereby enabling the Commission to carry
out the recommendations of the General Assembly. Otherwise, the
period immediately following the termination of the Mandate will
be a period of uncontrolled, widespread strife and bloodshed in
Palestine, including the City of Jerusalem. This would be a
catastrophic conclusion to an era of international concern for
that territory.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
