Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V, Part 2

The Acting United Nations Mediator (Bunche) to the Secretary-General ¹

Rhodes, 30 September 1948.

1. The assassinations of Count Bernadotte and Colonel Serot have thrown a tragic light on an increasingly serious situation in Palestine as regards the authority, prestige and even the safety of the personnel engaged in the truce supervision work.

2. During the truce ordered by the Security Council in its resolution of 15 July 1948, there has been a disturbing tendency on the part of both Arabs and Jews to withhold co-operation from the Truce Supervision Organization and to place obstacles in the way of its effective operation.

[Here follow paragraphs numbered 3, which gave illustration of practices and attitudes greatly hampering the truce supervisors, and 4, which gave evidences of disregard for the authority of the United Nations, its personnel and property.]

5. The current attitudes of both parties toward the truce supervision involve a serious tendency to disregard the provisions of the resolution of the Security Council of 29 May and 15 July. The resolution of 29 May “Calls upon all concerned to give the greatest possible assistance to the United Nations Mediator” while the resolution of 15 July “Calls upon all Governments and authorities concerned to continue to co-operate with the Mediator with a view to the maintenance of peace in Palestine in conformity with the resolution adopted by the Security Council on 29 May 1948”.

6. There can be little doubt that appropriate action by the Security Council at this time would be helpful to the effort to ensure the maintenance and the effective supervision of the truce in Palestine. In this regard it might well be called to the attention of the disputing parties that the Security Council resolutions of 15 July and 19 August remain firm, and that all of the obligations on the parties therein set forth with regard to the maintenance of peace in Palestine are to be fully discharged.

7. In particular it would seem desirable to give special emphasis to the following obligations and liabilities of the parties with regard to the Truce Supervision: (a) The obligation to allow duly accredited United Nations observers and other Truce Supervision personnel bearing proper credentials, on official notification from Central Truce Supervision Board, ready access to all places where their duties require them to go including airfields, ports, truce lines and strategic points and areas; (b) The obligation to facilitate the freedom of movement of Truce Supervision personnel and transport by alleviation of burdensome flight clearance restrictions on United Nations aircraft now in effect, and by assurance of safe conduct for all United Nations aircraft and other means of transport; (c) The obligation to co-operate fully with the Truce Supervision personnel in their conduct of investigations into incidents involving alleged breaches of the truce, including the making available of witnesses, testimony and other evidence on request; (d) The obligation to implement fully by appropriate and prompt instructions to the commanders in the field all agreements entered into through the good offices of the Mediator or his representatives; (e) The obligation of each party to take all reasonable measures to ensure the safety and safeconduct of the Truce Supervision personnel and the representatives of the Mediator, their aircraft and vehicles, while in territory under its control; (f) The liability of each party for any assault upon or other aggressive act against the Truce Supervision personnel or the representatives of the Mediator in territory under its control, including the obligation to make every effort to apprehend and promptly punish the guilty.

8. Since the question of reparations for injuries incurred in the service of the United Nations is now under consideration by the General Assembly it has not been included among the obligations and liabilities suggested in the preceding paragraph.²

1. Reprinted from SC, 3rd yr., Supplement for October 1948, p. 46.
2. The Department, on October 6, authorized the American Delegation at the United Nations to inform its colleagues on the Security Council that the United States as a member of the Palestine Truce Commission supported the recommendations set forth in paragraphs 6 and 7 of Dr. Bunche’s communication of September 30. The Department also directed the Delegation to “inform French and Belgian colleagues SC this govt’s attitude” and to airmail the text of Dr. Bunche’s communication to American Missions at the Arab capitals and at Tel Aviv, with a “statement Dept supports Bunche’s recommendations and requests US Reps these capitals should occasion arise make our view plainly known govt to which accredited.” (Gadel 131 to Paris, 501.BB Palestine/10–348)