Editorial Note
The Trusteeship Council, on December 13, began consideration of its responsibilities under the General Assembly’s resolution of December 9. Ambassador Sayre enunciated the views of the United States the same day, guided by the considerations set forth in telegram 641, supra. A summary of his statement is recorded in United Nations, [Page 1540] Official Records of the Trusteeship Council, Second Special Session, page 37.
The Council, on December 19, gave consideration to a Mexican draft resolution (ibid., page 68), which proposed that the President of the Council be entrusted with the preparation of a working paper on the Statute of Jerusalem, to be submitted to the Council at the beginning of its sixth regular session on January 19, 1950. The draft resolution, as amended, was adopted by the Council by 11 votes to none, with 1 abstention (ibid., page 69).
Then on December 20, the Council considered a draft resolution (ibid., page 81), which expressed its concern at the removal to Jerusalem of various ministries and departments of the Government of Israel. Such action was said “likely to render more difficult the implementation of the Statute of Jerusalem.” The draft resolution also called on the President of the Council “To invite the Government of Israel to submit a written statement on the matters covered by this resolution.” The measure, as amended, was adopted by 5 votes to none, with 7 abstentions (ibid., page 84).
The texts of the two resolutions as adopted by the Trusteeship Council, numbered 113 (S–2) and 114 (S–2), are printed in United Nations, Official Records of the Trusteeship Council, Second Special Session, 8 December–20 December 1949, Resolutions, page 2.