Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

501.BB Palestine/1–1549: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Legation in Switzerland

secret

Washington, January 15, 1949—12 noon.

us urgent

niact

65. For Vincent.¹ Deptel 54, Jan. 13,² Keenan will not be able, for personal reasons, undertake duties as US Rep Pal Con Comm. His successor, however, has not yet been appointed. In this situation please be guided by following instructions:

1. You shld say to Fr and Turk Members Comm and to UN Secr that pending arrival US Commissioner Dept has requested you ex officio to represent this Govt and accordingly we hope Commission’s first meetings can be informal in character.

2. If foregoing acceptable to Fr and Turk members you may participate fully with them in discussing procedures to be adopted by Comm. Such wld include:

a. Selection of Comm Chairmen. We wld suggest that Chairmanship rotate on monthly basis between three commissioners, following English alphabet. In this case France would be chair man first month, followed by Turkey, then US.

b. Itinerary of Comm. We wld have no objection if Fr propose that Comm proceed first Jerusalem to make acte de presence, later possibly going Rhodes if this is suggested by Mediator or if Comm shld feel such move necessary. We do not favor Comm meeting in Turkey since certain parties to Palestine dispute might not regard this as neutral ground.

3. If, contrary our expectation, Fr and Turk members insist on more formal treatment you must explain you will have to abstain from vote and that US to its regret will not be able participate in Commission’s formal deliberations pending arrival its Representative.

4. Since US Rep on Con Comm will be White House appointee we do not contemplate that you should undertake substantive discussions on Palestine problem.³

Repeat Geneva 37 Unpal 1.

Repeated USUN 26, Paris 136, Ankara 25.

Lovett

1. John Carter Vincent, Minister in Switzerland.
2. Not printed.
3. This message was cleared by the White House. The United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine held its first meeting at Geneva on January 17 with Mr. Vincent acting ex officio. The Commission “rendered homage memory Bernadotte; decided presidency would be exercised in rotation with Turkey as first president; decided establish headquarters Jerusalem beginning January 24; decided issue communiqués on committee work as occasion demanded; discussed with Azcarate practical questions including details establishment Jerusalem.” (telegram Palun 2, January 18, noon, from Bern, 501.BB Palestine/1–1849) Mr. Azcarate was Principal Secretary of the Commission.