Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Suez Crisis, July 26–December 31, 1956, Volume XVI

485. Editorial Note

At the request of the Egyptian Government, the first emergency session of the General Assembly reconvened at 8 p.m. on November 3. Earlier that day the United States Delegation had circulated two draft resolutions as United Nations documents A/3272 and A/3273. Their texts read as follows:

Document A/3272

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, by which the Assembly established the Palestine Conciliation Commission and laid down the functions of that Commission,

Noting that a final settlement of the questions outstanding between the Governments and authorities concerned with the problem of Palestine has not yet been achieved despite the efforts of the Palestine Conciliation Commission,

Noting the efforts of the Secretary-General undertaken under the Security Council resolutions of 4 April 1956 (S/3575) and 4 June 1956 (S/3605),

Recalling that the General Assembly, on 2 November 1956, adopted a resolution which noted the disregard on many occasions by parties to the Arab-Israel armistice agreements of 1949 of the terms of such agreements, and, inter alia, urged the parties to the armistice agreements promptly to withdraw all forces behind the armistice lines, to desist from raids across the armistice lines into neighbouring territory, and to observe scrupulously the provisions of the armistice agreements,

1. Holds that, in order to secure a just and lasting peace, it is necessary to remove the underlying causes of tension in the area and to achieve a final settlement between the parties to the general armistice agreements;

2. Expresses its appreciation to the Palestine Conciliation Commission, and discharges that Commission from the performance of further tasks;

3. Establishes a committee composed of —, —, —, —, —,

(a) To prepare recommendations, after consultation with the parties to the general armistice agreements of 1949, regarding a settlement of the major problems outstanding between the Arab States and Israel, with a view to establishing conditions of permanent peace and stability in the area;

(b) To submit its recommendations to the parties concerned and to the General Assembly, or to the Security Council as appropriate, and to submit reports to the General Assembly on the status of its assigned task;

4. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the committee, to continue his good offices with the parties;

5. Requests the Members of the United Nations to render all assistance to the Secretary-General and to the committee;

6. Commends the Secretary-General, the Chief of Staff and the members of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization for their efforts to enforce the general armistice agreements, and urges the parties directly concerned to cooperate fully with the Chief of Staff and members of the Truce Supervision Organization in carrying out the tasks assigned or which may be assigned to them by the Security Council; and

7. Urges the parties directly concerned, as a matter of humanity, to lend all possible assistance in caring for and assuring the safety of the Arab refugees under the continuing care of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and recommends that Members consider and furnish what additional assistance may be required.

Document A/3273

The General Assembly,

Noting that the Security Council, on 13 October 1956, adopted the following resolution (S/3675):

“The Security Council,

“Noting the declarations made before it and the accounts of the development of the exploratory conversations on the Suez question given by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, France and the United Kingdom,

“Agrees that any settlement of the Suez question should meet the following requirements:

• “(1) There should be free and open transit through the Canal without discrimination, overt or covert—this covers both political and technical aspects;
• “(2) The sovereignty of Egypt should be respected;
• “(3) The operation of the Canal should be insulated from the politics of any country;
• “(4) The manner of fixing tolls and charges should be decided by agreement between Egypt and the users;
• “(5) A fair proportion of the dues should be allotted to development;
• “(6) In case of disputes, unresolved affairs between the Suez Canal Company and the Egyptian Government should be settled by arbitration with suitable terms of reference and suitable provisions for the payment of sums founds to be due”,

Noting the position taken by the Government of Egypt in document S/3728,

Recalling that the General Assembly, on 2 November 1956, adopted a resolution which, inter alia, noted that traffic through the Suez Canal was interrupted with serious prejudice to many nations, urged the parties to the hostilities in Egypt to agree to an immediate cease-fire and, as part thereof, to halt the movement of military forces into the area and urged that, upon the cease-fire being effected, steps be taken to reopen the Suez Canal and restore freedom of navigation,

Recognizing that the situation calls for a permanent solution consistent with the principles of justice and international law, the sovereignty of Egypt, and the rights of international users of the Suez Canal as guaranteed by the Convention of 1888,

1. Establishes a committee composed of —, —, and — to assume responsibility for:

(a) The taking of measures for the immediate reopening of the Suez Canal as a secure international waterway;

(b) The preparation of a plan, in consultation with Egypt, France and the United Kingdom, for operation and maintenance of the Suez Canal and freedom of passage through it in accordance with the Convention of 1888, and with the six requirements unanimously agreed to by the Security Council, with the concurrence of Egypt, on 13 October 1956;

(c) The adoption and putting into effect of such a plan;

2. Requests the committee to report to the General Assembly and to the Security Council as appropriate, and invites the committee to make recommendations as it deems useful to promote a just and permanent settlement of the Suez problem, consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations;

3. Requests the Members of the United Nations to render all appropriate assistance to the committee.

During the 563d meeting which began at 8 p.m. on November 3, two additional draft resolutions pertaining to the Middle East were tabled: a 19-power draft resolution sponsored by the Governments of Afghanistan, Burma, Ceylon, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Thailand and Yemen (U.N. doc. A/3275), and a draft resolution sponsored by the Government of Canada (U.N. doc. A/3276). Their texts read as follows:

Document A/3275 (Resolution 999 (ES–I))

The General Assembly,

Noting with regret that not all the parties concerned have yet agreed to comply with the provisions of its resolution of 2 November 1956,

Noting the special priority given in the resolution to an immediate cease-fire and as part thereof to the halting of the movement of military forces and arms into the area,

Noting further that the resolution urged the parties to the armistice agreements promptly to withdraw all forces behind the armistice lines, to desist from raids across the armistice lines into neighbouring territory, and to observe scrupulously the provisions of the armistice agreements,

1. Reaffirms its resolution of 2 November 1956 and once again calls upon the parties immediately to comply with the provisions of the said resolution;

2. Authorizes the Secretary-General immediately to arrange with the parties concerned for the implementation of the cease-fire and the halting of the movement of military forces and arms into the area and requests him to report compliance forthwith and, in any case, not later than twelve hours from the time of adoption of the present resolution;

3. Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of the Chief of Staff and the members of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, to obtain compliance of the withdrawal of all forces behind the armistice lines;

4. Decides to meet again immediately on receipt of the Secretary-General’s report referred to in operative paragraph 2 of the present resolution.

Document A/3276 (Resolution 998 (ES–I))

The General Assembly,

Bearing in mind the urgent necessity of facilitating compliance with resolution 997 (ES–I) adopted by the General Assembly on 2 November 1956,

Requests, as a matter of priority, the Secretary-General to submit to it within forty-eight hours a plan for the setting up, with the consent of the nations concerned, of an emergency international United Nations Force to secure and supervise the cessation of hostilities in accordance with the terms of the aforementioned resolution.

Following the tabling of these resolutions, Lodge informed the Assembly that the United States “likes the Canadian draft resolution very much”. Lodge then pointed out that the two U.S. draft resolutions dealt with long-range questions, which would require further study, and therefore the United States would not push them to a vote that evening. Instead, Lodge expressed his delegation’s hope that the Canadian draft resolution be given priority and be acted upon promptly that evening. After additional discussion, the General Assembly adopted the Canadian draft resolution as Resolution 998 (ES–I) by a vote of 57 in favor, 0 opposed, and 19 abstentions, and the 19-power draft resolution as Resolution 999 (ES–I) by a vote of 59 in favor (including the United States), 5 opposed, and 12 abstentions. The meeting finally adjourned after 3 a.m. on November 4. (U.N. doc. A/PV.563) For text of Lodge’s remarks during the 563d meeting, see Department of State Bulletin, November 19, 1956, pages 787–790.