Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

501.BB Palestine/11–2149

Memorandum by the Secretary of State to the President

Washington, November 21, 1949.

Subject: Instructions to the United States Delegation to the General Assembly on the Jerusalem Question.

When the General Assembly takes up the Jerusalem question in a few days, it will have before it the detailed proposals for an international regime for Jerusalem prepared by the Palestine Conciliation Commission of which the United States, France and Turkey are members.

The Commission prepared these proposals pursuant to the instructions which it received from the General Assembly by the Resolution of December 11, 1948, as follows:

“Resolved that, in view of its association with three world religions, the Jerusalem area, including the present municipality of Jerusalem plus the surrounding villages and towns,…¹ should be accorded special and separate treatment from the rest of Palestine and should be placed under effective United Nations control.

. . . . . . .¹

“Instructs the Conciliation Commission to present to the fourth regular session of the General Assembly detailed proposals for a permanent international regime for the Jerusalem area which will provide for the maximum local autonomy for distinctive groups consistent with the special international status of the Jerusalem area;”

Israel has rejected the Commission’s plan and has submitted an alternate proposal limited to United Nations supervision of the Holy Places. It now appears that the Hashemite Jordan Kingdom will also reject it on the ground that it does not favor an international regime for Jerusalem.

The Vatican has consistently advocated a stronger type of internationalization, under full United Nations control. You will recall that in correspondence with Cardinal Spellman you have assured him that this Government firmly supports the internationalization of Jerusalem and does not intend to recognize the sovereignty of any state in the City. The Department of State has also written in the same sense to Cardinal Spellman and other personalities and groups.

Having discussed the foregoing considerations with the Delegation in New York, the following instructions are proposed:

1. The United States objective at this session of the General Assembly is to obtain approval of an international regime for the Jerusalem area which (a) will adequately recognize the status of Jerusalem as the center of three great world religions and will provide for the necessary protection of and access to the Holy Places under United Nations supervision; (b) will contribute to peace and stability in the area; (c) will be workable; and (d) will take into account the interests of the principal communities in Jerusalem and the views of Israel and Jordan.

2. As a member of the Palestine Conciliation Commission, the United States participated in the formulation of the Palestine Conciliation Commission draft instrument and should support it, subject to clarifying amendments, as a basis for General Assembly consideration.

3. During the General Assembly discussion, the United States Delegation should state that it will examine on their merits any modifications of the Palestine Conciliation Commission Instrument and any new proposals. Such amendments or new proposals should be considered by the Delegation and the Department in the light of the possibility of reaching a general agreement.

4. For purposes of handling such amendments and proposals in the General Assembly and, if possible, reconciling them, the Department believes that the Ad Hoc Political Committee should create a subcommittee consisting of equal representation from members supporting Christian, Moslem and Jewish views. The Palestine Conciliation Commission might be invited to attend for advice and information

5. If in the working out of a settlement for the Jerusalem question the Assembly should be unable to agree upon detailed and definite arrangements, the United States Delegation should, after consultation with the Department, support some other form of temporary arrangements for the Jerusalem area which, pending further consideration by the General Assembly, would provide the necessary protection of and access to the Holy Places under United Nations supervision and which would offer further opportunity for reaching an agreement which would be acceptable not only to Israel and Jordan but also to the United Nations.²

Dean Acheson

1. Omissions indicated in the source text.
1. Omissions indicated in the source text.
2. In a memorandum of November 21 covering his conversation with President Truman, Secretary Acheson recorded: “I went over with the President the whole history of this matter, calling his attention to all the documents, starting with the first resolution of the General Assembly and continuing up through, the present recommendation of the Conciliation Commission. After considering what I said and reading the memorandum, the President approved it.” (501.BB Palestine/11–2149) The President’s action is also indicated by his marginal notation “Approved Nov. 21, 1949”.

   The Department, later the same day, telegraphed the five numbered paragraphs to the United States Mission at the United Nations as well as the fact of Presidential approval (Gadel 110 to New York, 501.BB/11–2149).