501.BB Palestine/9–249: Telegram
Mr. Stuart W. Rockwell to the Secretary of State
Palun 288. PCC took following decisions August 29:
1. Formally adopted Jerusalem statute and draft declaration re holy places outside Jerusalem area and decided forward both shortly to SYG. PCC made several amendments to Jerusalem statute as presented by Jerusalem committee of which following most important:
- a.
- Preamble, after referring to provisions of December 11 resolution concerning Jerusalem, states that UN “hereby establishes, in the exercise of its full and permanent authority over Jerusalem area, permanent international regime for the Jerusalem area in accordance with the following provisions”.
- b.
- Article 3 “all matters not reserved by the present instrument to the competence of the UN commissioner and thereby is provided for hereinafter are delegated to the respective competence of the responsible authorities of the two zones”.
PCC believed above changes would strengthen position of UN authority in Jerusalem, at least on paper, and would increase likelihood of obtaining affirmative votes for statute from Catholic nations in GA. PCC recognized changes would probably also strengthen Israeli opposition.
2. Re telegram from SYG proposing Azcarate as UN representative in Jerusalem subject Palun 286,1 decided cable SYG that PCC preferred Azcarate remain as Principal Secretary PCC and therefore requested list other candidates be cabled soonest.2
[Page 1337]3. Decided adjourn Lausanne on or about September 15 and reconvene New York on or about October 20. During this period Azcarate will proceed Jerusalem maintain contact with parties and report to commissioners any developments or any communications or proposals parties may care to make.
- Dated August 23, from Lausanne, not printed; it stated that the Palestine Conciliation Commission had decided to appoint a UN representative in Jerusalem in accordance with the GA resolution of December 11, 1948, and that this action had been taken largely on French initiative. The French were said to have been disturbed by recent Israeli moves and statements indicating intention to make Jerusalem the Israeli capital and to feel that the presence of a UN representative would have some slight deterrent effect upon the Israelis and might facilitate establishment of an eventual international regime in Jerusalem. Mr. Porter indicated that he had “no illusion of effectiveness this move” but expressed the belief that “no useful purpose would be served by opposing.” (501.BB Palestine/8–2349)↩
- The Palestine Conciliation Commission appointed Alberto Gonzalez Fernandez United Nations. Representative in Jerusalem on September 10 (telegram Palun 316, September 10, from Lausanne). Mr. Gonzalez, who was the Colombian Alternative Representative at the United Nations, proved unable to serve, however, “owing illness his wife.” (telegram 1172, September 21, 11 p. m., from New York) Consul Burdett concluded that whether the “illness physical or diplomatic, Israeli will … draw conclusion hostile and even threatening tone of press and speeches responsible. Will encourage use same tactics against any other representative named and will strengthen Israel belief UN not prepared to insist on internationalization in face of determined Israel opposition.” (telegram 593, September 23, 4 p. m., from Jerusalem) The three telegrams cited in this footnote are filed under 501.BB Palestine/9–1049, /9–2149, and /9–2349, respectively.↩