Editorial Note
Arthur Creech Jones then presented the British point of view in the Security Council of the United Nations. He noted that the general security situation in Palestine had degenerated very seriously since the resolution of November 29, 1947. He said further that “It is essentially because of the difficulties of security and the dangers of divided responsibility in Palestine in present conditions that the Mandatory Power, faced with specific threats by the Arabs, could not agree to open a port to Jewish immigration, to the progressive transfer of areas to the Commission’s administration, or to the formation of a militia under the control of the Provisional Government of the future Jewish State. Nor could my Government safely extend the period of overlap during which the United Nations Commission would be present in Palestine while the responsibility for security and administration still rested with the Mandatory Power.”
Mr. Creech Jones reiterated British policy of not opposing the United Nations decision but of not undertaking, alone or in association with others, to impose that decision by force. (SC, 3rd yr., Nos. 16–35, pages 269, 270)
Alfonso López, the Colombian Representative at the United Nations, introduced a resolution into the Security Council on February 24, which invited the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, China, and France “to consult with one another with a view to such joint action on behalf of this Organization as may be necessary to prevent or remove any threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression arising from the implementation of the General Assembly’s resolution of 29 November 1947”. The measure also resolved “pending the result of such consultations, to appoint a committee composed of the representatives of two permanent members and three non-permanent members of the Security Council whose task will be:
- “(a) To ascertain if it is not possible to bring about an agreement between the Jewish Agency and the Arab Higher Committee which [Page 655] will enable the United Nations Palestine Commission to discharge, its functions and responsibilities in due course, without the use of force;
- “(b) To examine the advisability of requesting the Secretary General to call an extraordinary session of the General Assembly for the purpose of reconsidering its resolution of 29 November 1947, as a whole or in part, and discussing such other matters relating thereto as the committee may find necessary for the pacific settlement of the situation in Palestine.”
Finally, the resolution requested the United Kingdom “to postpone the date fixed for the termination of its Mandate until 15 July 1948, and, accordingly, its arrangements for the evacuation of its troops from Palestine.” (SC, 3rd yr., Nos. 16–35, pages 292, 293.)
The proposal was withdrawn by the Colombian Representative at the Security Council meeting of February 27 (ibid., page 365).