Editorial Note
Count Bernadotte, in an address before the Security Council on the morning of July 13, amplified his written report; for text, see SC, 3rd yr., No. 95. In the afternoon session the same day, Mr. Jessup paid tribute to the Mediator and then stated that “Fighting is now going on in Palestine. It is going on because one party has not agreed to any suggestion or appeal to avoid fighting, although the other party, the Provisional Government of Israel, declared its readiness to accept each and every suggestion and appeal.
“The Security Council must accept its responsibility.
“The general, the practically universal opinion, is that there is a threat to the peace in Palestine within the meaning of Article 39 of the Charter. …”
Later in his statement, Mr. Jessup suggested that “The Security Council should call attention to the consequences of a failure to stop fighting. Such a warning would clearly have particular meaning for that party which has so far rejected all appeals.” (Ibid., page 39.) He then submitted a United States draft resolution, the text of which is printed ibid., page 40.
The Syrian Representative sharply criticized the United States proposal (ibid., page 41) and submitted a draft resolution requesting the International Court of Justice to give an advisory legal opinion as to the international status of Palestine after the termination of the British mandate (ibid., page 52).