Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V, Part 2

Statement Made by the United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) Before the Security Council on February 25, 1948¹

New York, February 25, 1948

I propose a draft resolution on the Palestine question which reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Having received General Assembly resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, on Palestine, and having received from the United Nations Palestine Commission its first monthly report and its first special report on the problem of security in Palestine;

“Resolves:

“1. To accept, subject to the authority of the Security Council under the Charter, the requests addressed by the General Assembly to it in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of section A of the General Assembly resolution of 29 November 1947;

“2. To establish a committee of the Security Council, comprising the five permanent members of the Security Council, the functions [of] which will be:

“(a) To inform the Security Council regarding the situation with respect to Palestine and to make recommendations to it regarding the guidance and instructions which the Security Council might usefully give to the Palestine Commission;

“(b) To consider whether the situation with respect to Palestine constitutes a threat to international peace and security, and to report its conclusions as a matter of urgency to the Security Council, together with any recommendations for action by the Security Council which it considers appropriate;

“(c) To consult with the Palestine Commission, the Mandatory Power, and representatives of the principal communities of Palestine concerning the implementation of the General Assembly recommendation of 29 November 1947.

“Appeals to all Governments and peoples, particularly in and around Palestine, to take all possible action to prevent or reduce such disorders as are now occurring in Palestine.”

I think it would be premature for me to undertake to debate this draft resolution, because it follows a draft resolution which is already before the Security Council, but this draft resolution clearly shows that the attitude of the United States is such that it cannot support the proposal made yesterday by the representative of Colombia, and that its opposition is not without reason, because the position as stated yesterday is exactly the position that is represented in this draft resolution.

I wanted to submit this draft resolution to the Security Council early enough—indeed I think this is the earliest possible moment I could submit it—so that in considering the draft resolution presented by Colombia and any other situation that may arise here, the Security Council may know that the position of the United States, represented in the address which I made before the Security Council yesterday, is carried into a definite, concrete proposal, and so that the members of the Security Council may have the earliest possible notice of the United States position.

1. Reprinted from SC, 3rd yr., Nos. 16–35, pp. 294, 295.