357.AC/7–2651
The Secretary of State to the United States Representative on the Palestine Conciliation Commission (Palmer), at Geneva1
My Dear Ambassador Palmer: The Department has given careful consideration to the problems confronting the Palestine Conciliation Commission in its task of carrying out the instructions it has received from the General Assembly of the United Nations. The Department has reviewed the Commission’s activities since its creation by the General Assembly in 1948, in light of the present situation in the Near and Middle East and has been greatly assisted in its deliberations by the reports it has received from the United States Delegation to the Commission. We have been seriously concerned with the fact that up to the present the Palestine Conciliation Commission has not made a more significant contribution to the settlement of the problems dividing the countries of the Near East and we firmly believe that the Commission has an obligation imposed upon it to seek solution of the problems and difficulties involved in the Palestine situation. The Department has concluded that at an early meeting of the PCC you should advocate new and more vigorous efforts by the Commission, which, as a result of its wide experience, is in the best position to deal with the present situation. In this connection the Department has given careful consideration to the views and concern of the Governments of France, Turkey and United Kingdom.
I should like to outline for your guidance in your discussions with your colleagues on the Commission the steps which the Department feels the Commission might now undertake:
- 1.
- The Department of State believes that the mandate of the General Assembly to the Palestine Conciliation Commission is of such [Page 800] a nature as to require a more authoritative and direct role on the part of the PCC than it has heretofore assumed. The nature of the problems with which the Commission must deal necessitates in our opinion a procedure based upon the Commission’s authority to mediate between the various governments concerned. The Department believes that the experience of the past two years should convince Israel and the Arab States that the United Nations body created for this purpose by the General Assembly is best fitted for this function.
- 2.
- The assumption of the role of mediator in the matters dividing the governments concerned presupposes the necessity for negotiations as envisaged in the various resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, particularly the resolution of December 18, 1950. The Department is of the opinion that the PCC might decide that the time has come when a conference for this purpose should be called.
- 3.
- The Department believes that such a conference should be
for the purpose of discussing and suggesting solutions for
specific problems including the repatriation of refugees,
territorial adjustments, compensation, the release of
blocked accounts and other important subjects such as
unsolved problems in the Jerusalem area and the use of the
Jordan waters. Specifically, the Commission might put
forward suggestions based on the following considerations:
- a)
- A multilateral non-aggression declaration or pact to be entered into between Israel and the individual Arab states on the initiative of the Commission might greatly reduce tensions in the area and produce an atmosphere conducive to the solution of individual problems.
- b)
- An approach to the problem of repatriation might start with the selection of those classes of refugees whose repatriation could be considered by Israel as beneficial to its economy. Likewise the return of selected groups of property owners for residence and resumption of control of their property might obviate some of the larger compensation claims.
- c)
- The agreement of Israel and the Arab States on the principle of compensation and the approximate total amount might advance the possibility of ultimate payment. Similarly the announcement of Israel’s agreement to proposals for a practical solution of the compensation problem might provide the PCC with a talking point for the Arab States’ relaxation of trade and other restrictions.
- d)
- An agreement to accord the Mixed Armistice Commission greater scope in the handling of current ad hoc problems might greatly improve day to day relations. A PCC-fostered agreement between the parties for the elimination, partition, reduction or redelimitation of the demilitarized zones, or the definition of the armistice lines or segments thereof, as de facto national boundaries pending final settlement, might bring the parties appreciably closer to a final peace.
- 4.
- The Department hopes that if the PCC decides to undertake the more direct and formal approach of exercising its mediation functions within the framework of a conference between Israel and the Arab States, results may be achieved of mutual benefit to the parties concerned. In response to the Commission’s request, the United States will be prepared to lend all appropriate diplomatic support for the convening of such a conference. The Department appreciates the fact that [Page 801] all of the specific problems which at present divide the parties may not be susceptible of immediate solution but believes that if one or more of these outstanding problems were settled satisfactorily this would be a much needed contribution to peace and security in the area.
- 5.
- It would be appreciated if you would inform the Department as soon as possible concerning the results of your consultations with your colleagues in order that adequate time may be permitted for consideration of such future dispositions as may be necessary by the next General Assembly.
Sincerely yours,
- Drafted by Messrs. G. L. Jones, Barco, and Ludlow.↩