Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/1–1349

Memorandum by the Director of the Office of United Nations Affairs (Rusk) to the Acting Secretary of State

[Washington,] January 13, 1949.

Subject: United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine

Discussion

On December 11, 1948, at its Third Session the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution establishing a Conciliation Commission to assist the Arabs and Jews in reaching an agreement re Palestine. It is composed of three states Members of the United Nations: France, Turkey and the United States.

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The Conciliation Commission in addition will undertake upon request of the Security Council any of the functions now assigned to the U.N. Mediator on Palestine or to the U.N. Truce Commission by resolutions of the Security Council. Upon such request the office of the Mediator shall be terminated. It is also instructed to present to the fourth regular session of the General Assembly detailed proposals for a permanent international regime for the Jerusalem area. It is further instructed to facilitate the rehabilitation of refugees, maintaining close relations with the Director of the U.N. Relief for Palestine Refugees.

The Conciliation Commission will have its headquarters in Jerusalem. It has been agreed that its preliminary meeting will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, about January 17, and that it will then proceed to Rhodes and Jerusalem. The President on December 29, 1948, appointed Mr. Joseph B. Keenan as the United States Representative. However, plans for his departure have been delayed. It is proposed that Fraser Wilkins (NEA) and John W. Halderman (UNP) be designated as Principal Adviser and Adviser respectively and that they depart immediately for Geneva. A supplemental memorandum will be submitted, setting forth the arrangements for security pro visions for the delegation.

[Here follow a discussion of personnel requirements, a recommendation that the designations1 of Messrs. Wilkins and Halderman be approved, concurrences, etc.]

  1. Mr. Lovett gave his approval to the designations in a marginal notation on a subsequent but undated memorandum to him by Mr. Rusk.↩