Editorial Note
The General Assembly, on December 11, undertook discussion of the resolution of the First Committee. Australia proposed amendments jointly sponsored by seven nations, which “eliminated all references in the resolution to both the original partition plan and the Bernadotte proposals as the basis for a boundary agreement.” (Department of State Bulletin, December 19, 1948, page 763) The Assembly had released the text of the joint amendments in document A/789. Mr. Dulles extended United States support to the resolution of the First Committee and to the joint amendments; for the full text of his statement, see ibid., page 793.
The Assembly voted on the amended measure the same day, adopting it by a vote of 35 to 15, with eight abstentions. The adverse votes were cast chiefly by the Arab States and the Soviet bloc (GA, 3rd sess., Pt. I, Plenary, 1943, pages 995, 996). The resolution established [Page 1662] a Conciliation Commission of three members “(a) To assume, in so far as it considers necessary in existing circumstances, the functions given to the United Nations Mediator on Palestine by resolution 186 (S–2) of the General Assembly of 14 May 1948; (b) To carry out the specific functions and directives given to it by the present resolution and such additional functions and directives as may be given to it by the General Assembly or by the Security Council; [and] (c) To undertake, upon the request of the Security Council, any of the functions now assigned to the United Nations Mediator on Palestine or to the United Nations Truce Commission by resolutions of the Security Council; upon such request to the Conciliation Commission by the Security Council with respect to all the remaining functions of the United Nations Mediator on Palestine under Security Council resolutions, the office of the Mediator shall be terminated”.
The resolution also provided that Jerusalem and the surrounding area “be accorded special and separate treatment from the rest of Palestine”, under effective United Nations control; and that “the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible”. For the full text of the resolution, numbered 194 (III), see GA, 3rd sess., Pt. I, Resolutions 1948, page 21.