357.AC/7–2651
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Hickerson) and the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (McGhee) to the Secretary of State1
Subject: Letter to Ambassador Palmer, United States Representative on the United Nations Palestine Conciliation Commission.
Background:
NEA and UNA have become increasingly concerned over the inactivity and decreasing effectiveness of the Palestine Conciliation [Page 798] Commission in fulfilling the duties assigned to it by the General Assembly and the Security Council. We believe that at least one more effort should be made by the Commission to carry out its mandate prior to the Sixth General Assembly, particularly in the light of the present situation prevailing in the Near East. We are proposing, therefore, that the Commission consider at its forthcoming meeting in Geneva the possibility of requesting the Arab states and Israel to meet in Istanbul with the Commission. At the conference the Commission would attempt to have the parties agree upon as many of the items enumerated in the letter as possible.
Since Ambassador Palmer must assume the leadership in these plans for the Commission, we believe that it would be of great value toward this end if you would sign this letter to him as being by way of an instruction to him. We also believe the possession of this letter would give effective assistance to Ambassador Palmer in dealing with his colleagues. Finally, we believe that whether the conference succeeds or fails this letter would enhance our record in handling the Palestine problem.
Recommendation:
That you sign the attached letter.
Concurrences:
UNA NEA
Attachment:
Letter to Ambassador Palmer.2