501.BB Palestine/10–2048: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Delegation at Paris
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Gadel 337. In our opinion, US introduction and/or sponsorship text providing for scale of contributions (Delga 494 Oct. 261) involves a US commitment which would make prior consultation Congressional leaders essential. Such consultation not practicable at present, and would necessitate further and unfortunate postponement Committee Three discussion.
Regardless of means presentation appeal, we believe we can expect little tangible assistance from any states except US, UK, Arabs, and possibly dominions. Therefore, since bulk of contributions under either proposal will come from same sources, we much prefer UK [Page 1523] draft,2 embodying only moral obligation for all Members, rather than USDel proposal which involves specifying degree of interest for every member. Dorr3 concurs foregoing and view that fictitious budget more difficult present Congress.
Re your numbered para 3, introduction resolution along US lines would almost certainly open up undesirable and prolonged political debate concerning question responsibility for creation refugee problem.
Moreover Committee 3 action might be prejudiced if draft scale contributions not submitted with draft resolution. Determination scale would involve time consuming and difficult negotiations.
Dept. feels that UK proposal (Delga 423, Oct 20 par b) would be more likely win Committee 3 support.4
- Not printed.↩
- As transmitted in telegram Delga 423, October 20, 11 p. m., from Paris, not printed.↩
- Goldthwaite H. Dorr of the Executive Secretariat.↩
- The joint resolution was actually sponsored, on October 29, by Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as by the United Kingdom and the United States; for text, see United Nations, Official Records of the Third Session of the General Assembly, Part I, Third Committee, Annexes, 1948, p. 51.↩