350/3–3050: Telegram
The United States Delegation to the Trusteeship Council to the Secretary of State
458. Tcdel 155. 1. USDel discussed with Garreau this morning procedure to be followed subsequent to approval of Jerusalem statute which will probably be end of this week.1 We expressed our belief it would be desirable for Council to adopt resolution requesting TC President to transmit statute to Israel and Jordan for their consideration and showed Garreau possible draft of such resolution as follows:
“The TC, having approved the statute for Jerusalem at its—meeting on—1950, requests the President of the TC,
- “(a) To transmit the text of the statute for Jerusalem to the governments of the two states at present occupying the area and city of Jerusalem,
- “(b) To request from the two governments their cooperation in view of paragraph II of the GA resolution of December 9, 1949,
- “(c) To ascertain from these two governments as fully as possible their views as to ways and means for putting the statute into practical effect,
- “(d) To report on these matters to the TC during the course of its 7th regular session.”
2. We told Garreau that we had informally discussed this question with Bunche, who felt TC would be well advised proceed along such lines. Bunche indicated he would be willing, if invited, to assist President on such mission and if necessary to go to Jerusalem and respective capitals.
3. Garreau said he also discussed question with Bunche and he (Garreau) personally approved this procedure. However, he had later received instructions signed by Schuman,2 which were substantially as follows:
In view previous French position on Jerusalem, French delegation would vote in favor statute. In order avoid this matter remaining “dead letter”, French Government thought it would be advisable for TC to appoint person from “neutral” state to proceed to Jerusalem as TC representative not only to request parties to accept statute, but also urge them accept and to give them opportunity of suggesting changes which might make statute more acceptable to them. Such individual would report back to TC at its next session. In event Council could not decide on such appointment prior to termination present session, Council should request President and two other members to select and appoint individual to undertake above task. Council and its President should be guided in its choice of this individual by necessity for finding person who could convince both parties that unless they adopt more reasonable attitude on Jerusalem question, GA at next session might decide to take more drastic steps to bring about acquiescence of parties. Above procedure would obviate necessity for selecting a governor and, in any event, it would not be desirable for a governor to proceed to Jerusalem except for sole purpose of putting statute into effect. However, in event TC decides to appoint another committee to choose governor, its functions should be limited only to selecting number of candidates for consideration by TC at next session.
4. Garreau said these instructions were quite confusing as they were in contradiction to instructions which had been given to French delegation by Parodi3 on Saturday. Parodi had been in favor of President transmitting statute to Israel and Jordan. Garreau indicated possibility that Schuman might have been influenced in this change of instruction by Vatican sources.
Garreau gave impression that he would seek change in Schuman’s instructions.
[Page 829]5. USDel considers that resolution set forth in paragraph 1 above is proper way to proceed since we doubt if any person other than President TC could have sufficient authority and intimate knowledge of subject to present case properly and accordingly recommends that it be authorized to sponsor jointly resolution along these lines with such other delegations as may be willing. Department may also wish consider approaching French Government with view to obtaining their agreement to this procedure, particularly to Garreau’s role.
6. In event French Government unwilling for Garreau undertake task, USDel would appreciate Department’s views re appointment of neutral person. In this connection, name of Walter Stucki, Swiss Protestant, former Swiss Government official, Minister to France, and now adviser to Swiss Government, has been put forward and USDel understand Swiss President has indicated he would have no objection appointment Stucki.
7. As question of subsequent procedure will probably come up Monday, April 3, and in order permit time gain support for suggested resolution (if Department approves thereof), USDel would appreciate Department’s instructions by Saturday, April 1.
Sent Department 458; repeated London 117, Jerusalem unnumbered, Paris 55; Department pass Tel Aviv unnumbered, Amman unnumbered, USUN unnumbered.
- The third and last reading of the Jerusalem Statute began on March 29, when the Trusteeship Council formally adopted 21 articles. No negative votes were cast, but the United States abstained on Articles 4 (boundaries) and 21 (the legislative council). Before the vote on Article 1, Ambassador Sayre stated that the U.S. Delegation “had cooperated sincerely and wholeheartedly in Council’s task of drafting statute. He said he would vote in favor of such articles as US felt were properly and appropriately framed under GA resolution of December 9 and generally consistent with its terms. He added that such affirmative votes resulted from US desire to participate constructively in purely technical task of Council in completing preparation of statute.” (Telegram 454, identified also as Tcdel 154, from Geneva, 350/3–2950) The official record of discussions on March 29 is printed in TC (VI), pp. 597 ff.↩
- Robert Schuman, French Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩
- Alexandre Parodi, Secretary General of the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs.↩