S/PV.437 Security Council

This change will be IPade in the text of the draft resolution. el1es-memes~ Cette initiative des parties, le projet depose devant le Conseil se borne a en prendre acte, et ce, semble-t-il, sans equivoque. Le Mediateul." par interim ayant accompli sa missivn, it en est formellement decharge. La treve est declaree caduque. L'appareil de surveillance de la treve est liquide, a la seule exception des elements destines a assurer l'application des conventions d'armistice. Les representants de l'Egypte, d'Israel et de la Syrie ont confirme au Conseil [435eme seance] que, pour un temps Cl.U moins, le concours de ces elements etait en efIet necessaire. Le projet de resolution, en son huitieme paragraphe, prend note de la stipulation concernant le chef d'etat-major de I'Organisme des Nations Unies .'charge de la surveillance de la treve. Il mentionne ce titre parce que c'est ce1ui qui figure dans les conventions, mais il est clair que cet officier exercera desormais des fonctions toutes differentes de celles qui.lui incombaient jusqu'ici. Ces fonctions seront celles de President des commissions mixtes d'armistice. En outre, etant sur place, it aura qualite ,pour representer, jusqu'au reglement pacifique definitif, la sollicitude et la vigilance du Conseil, et faire lapport, en cas de besoin, sur la fa~on dont la suspension cl:'armes aura ete observee. Je m'excuse de ces explications un peu longues. Elles n'ont d'autre objetque d'eviter tout malentendu. M. SMITH (Canada) (traduit de l'anglais) : Je voudrais soulever une toute petite question. Avant que nous ne passions au vote sur ce projet de ·resolution. j'ainierais attirer l'attention des membres du Conseil sur une erreur typographique qui se trouve dans le texte anglais du projet de resolution presente en commun par les delegations du Canada et de la France. A la sixie.me ligne du deuxieme paragraphe, dans le texte anglais du document S/1367, -lemot concluded devrait tiaturellement etre remplace par conducted. C'est le motqui est employe dans le texte de la resolution de l'Assemblee generale a laqt<elle ce paragraphe serapporte. Le PRESIDENT (traduit du r1.(,SS€;) : Cette modification sera apportee dans le texte du projet de resolution. Mr. AUSTIN (United States of America): The delegation of the United States strongly supports the revised draft resolution submitted by the delegations of Canada and France in document S/1367, as. amended today, in connexion with the report of the Acting Mediator on Palestine. The new draft not only meets the suggestions brought forward by the rep~esentative of France, but substantially improves and clarifies th~ original draft resolution. The revision makes it clear that the Security Council reaffirms and maintains the order to the Governments concerned to observe the unconditional cease-fire contained in its resolution of 15 July 1948 [Sj902] pursuant to Article 40 of the United Nations Charter. Although the more severe prohibitions contained in that resolution and in ~he preceding resolution of 29 May [S/801] have been outmoded by the Armistice Agreements, the order to the parties to observe a cease-fire should, and under this draft resolution would, continue in force and be binding upon all parties. The Armistice Agreements embrace the cease-fire and in certain cases refer to the lines established under the cease-fire. However, we believe that it is wise, as the Acting Mediator and the delegations of Canada and France have suggested, that the cease-fire order should be explicitly maintained, When permanent peace is achieved in Palestine, it will be appropriate for the Security Council to withdraw its cease-fire order. Until that time, however, it is prudent and fitting for the Security Council to mClintain it. We think that it is also desirable, as proposed by the Canadian and French delegations, to request the Secretary-General to maintain a skeleton staff of observers to observe the maintenance of our cease-fire order and assist the parties in maintaining and implementing the Armistice Agreements. .I.n0W: turn to the amendments proposed by the dlstmgl11shed representative of the Soviet Union [S/1368]. The first of those 'amendments relating to the second paragraph of the Ca~adian­ French draft resolution, would have the effect of urging the Governments of the Arab States afl~ ~he Government of Israel to· ignore the Conclhat1~fl Commissio~ and only negotiate directly regardmg the establIshment of permanent peace 1IIttr......-.....:-. M. AUS'!'IN (Etats-Unis d'Amerique) (trad~uif: de l'anglais): La delegation des Etats-Unis apporte un ferme Goutien au projet de resolution revise, amende aujourd'hue relati;£ ·au rapport du Mediateur par interim des Nations Unies pour la Palestine que les delegations du Canada et de la France ont presente dans le document S/1367. Le nouveau projet, non seulement satisfait aux suggestions du representant de la France, mais ameliore considerablement, en le precisant, le projet de resolution primitif. Sous sa forme revisee, le projet indique claire,... ment que le Conseil desecurite reaffirme et maintient l'ordre donne aux Gouvemements inh~­ resses d'observer la suspension d'armes inconditionnelle prescrite par sa resolution du 15 juillet 1948 [S/902], en vertu de l'Article 40 de la Charte. Bien que les int~rdktions les plus severes contenues clans cette resolution et dans la resolution prececlente du 29 mai [S/801] soient rendues caduques par les conventions d'armistice, 1'ordre donne aux parties d'observer une suspension d'armes devrait continuer - et, en vertu de ce projet de resolution, continuera - cl etre en vigueur et it les lier. Les conventions d'armistice comprennent la suspension d'armes et, dans certains cas, se referentaux lignes de demarcation tracees 10rs de la suspension d'armes. Toatefois, nous pensons qu'il est sage, ainsi que le Mecliateurpar interim et les delegations du Canada et de la France l'ont suggere, de confirmer explicitement l'ordre de cesser le feu. Lorsqu'une paix pennanente aura He etablie ~n Palestine, il sera indique pour le Conseil' de securite de revoquer cet ordre~ Toutefois, jusqu'a ce.moment-la,· i1 est prudent et il convient que le Conseil le maintienne. Nous . estimons qu'il est egalement souhaitable, ainsi qui l'ont propose ·les delegations canadienne et franc;aise, de demander auSecretaire general d'assurer la continuite d'un service reduit d'observateurs pour controler et maintenir la suspension d'annes, de meme que pour assister les parties aux conventions d'armistice dans lecontrole de 1'execution et de l'observance des termes de ces conventions. Je p~sse maintenant aux amendements proposes par le representant distingue de l'Union sovietique [S/1368]. Le premier de ces amendements, relatif au deuxieme paragraphe du projet de re., solution du Canada et de la France, aurait pour resultat de pousser les Gouvernements des Etats arabes et de l'Etat d'IsraeI a ne pas tenir compte de l'existence de la Commission de conciliation et a ne procecler qtt'a. des negociations directes en The second amendment proposed by t.~e delegation of the Soviet Unioti, which relates to the third paragraph of the Canadian-French draft resolution, and the fourth amendment, which "Would delete the sixth paragraph of the draft, would have the effect of abruptly withdrawing the United Nations observers from Palestine, thereby frustrating the successful implementation of the Armistice Agreements. As the Acting Mediator cogently pointed out a.t bur last meetin'g, to withdraw all United Nations personnel from Palestine would disrupt the Armistice Agreements, each of which provides that the United Nations should furnish a chairman for the mixed armistice c~mmission provided for in each Agreement, that chairman being designated by each of the Agreeinents as the Chief of Staff er senior officer of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Pal~stine. { . Mr. Bunche, who is above all qualified to judge on this issue, has told us that difficult and protracted negotiations for the armistices were on. several occasion:. toa large extent resolved by the provision for the impartial supervision which can be furnished only by United .Nations· observers He has assured us that the Agreements might not survive without the mixed armistice commissions as a means of settling disputes and supervising the implementation of the Agreements. We have heard the representatives of Egypt,.Israel and Syria testify here that while they naturally wish only the minimum amount of supervision, that they desire that the necessary ,United Nations officials be provided to enable the Armistice Agreements to be implemented. This morning we have listened to the representative of Egypt stating this in a differeut: way, without,. I think, changing the sentiment at.all; I understood hUn to say today that the Security Council should not take any action which would be in conflict .\"Iith the provisions of the Armistice Comt:lli~si,o!1, de,cm;J.ciliation. Nous ne devrions pas mettre en dotite l'opportunite de cette procedure, mais au contraire l'encourager. L'experience de l'annee passee montre que l'Organisation des Nations Unies peut jouer un role vital en rapprochant les parties, en les maintenant en contacl. et en les amenant a Ul1( accord. Le rapport du Mediateur par illterim que nous exan1inons en ce moment illustre le .principe suivant lequel, lorsque des parties sont reunies ensemble, on peut, avec une aide bienveillante et habile, les amener a conc1ure un accord. Le dcuxieme amendement que propose la delegation de 1'Union sovietique et qd se rapporte au troisieme paragraphe du projet de resolution presente par le Canada et la France, ainsi que le quatrieme amendement qui supprimerait le sixieme paragraphe de ce meme projet, auraient pour effet le brusque retrait. des observateurs des Nations Unies en Palestine, ce qui compromettrait le sllcd~e de 1'application des cOIlventions d'armistice. Ainsi que l'a si justement fait remarquer le Mediateur par interim au cours de notre seance precedente, si l'on retirait de Palestine tout le personnel de I'Organisation des Nations Unies, on portera.it atteinte, aux conventions d'armistice, dont chacune prevoit que 1'Organisation des Nations Unies aura a fournir un president pour la Commission rnixte d'armistice instituee par chaque c~mvention, ce president devantetre c le chef d'etat-major ou un fonctionnaire superieur de)I'Organisme des Nations Unies charge de la surveillance de la treve en Palestine. M. Brinche, qui est plus qualifie que quiconque pour juger de cette question, nous a declare que, aplusieurs reprises, ce sont dans une large mesure les dispositions prevoyant une surveillance impartiale, que sews des observateurs des Nations Unies peuvent fournir, qui ont permis aux negociations longues et difficiles visant a la conclusion de Ces armistices. d'aboutir aune solution. 11 nouS a donne l'assurance que ces conventions ne peuvent etre viables sans les commissions mixtes d'axmistice, dont le role est de regler les differends et de controler l'execution de ces conventions. Nous avons entendu les repn~sentants de l'Egypte, d'Israel et.de la Syrie declarer ici meme que, tout en ne .souhaitant, bien entendit, qu'~n minimum de contr61e, ils desirent neanmoins VOIr fournir le personriel de l'Organisation des Nations Unies necessaire pour permettre l'application des conventions d'armistice. Ce matin, nous avons entendu le representant de I'Egypte dire cela en des termes differents, mais qui, je pense, reviennent au meme; si j'ai bien compris, i1 a dit que le The Acting Mediator has clearly and correctly stated that if the Security Council adopts this resol1,1tion superseding the terms of the truce resolution, except for the provision for a continued cease-fire, the Tmce Supervision Organization as an administrative unit established for a specific purpose, will come to its natural end. It played a great role in bringing peace to Palestine, and·as it passes from the scene, each member deserves our .unstinted praise. The Canadian- French draft resolution asks the Secretary- General to utilize the personnel· of that organization for observance· of the cease-fire, and to assist the parties to implement the Armistice Agreements, This is as it should be. The third Soviet Union amendment would end the Mediator's office. Notice that I say "office". This the Security Council has no authority to do. . The. General Ac;sembly established this office. The -United States delegation believes that !he. draft of Canada and France more fittingly mdicates that the functions of the Mediator have been discharged, and relieves the Acting Mediator of fur~her responsibility under Security Council resolutions. Such a provision is consonant with We are therefore confident that the Security Council should reject the amendments and approve the Canadian-French dn.lit resolution. Mahmoud FAWZI Bey (Egypt): For the record, I should like to state that what I said this morning in connexion with part of the statement made by the representative of France applies also to part of the statement made by th~ representative of the United States. I do not intend, however, to continue holding a microscope in any hand; I am of the opinion that we should stick to the broa.d, essential lines of the subject before us.

I should like to say a few words as representative of the UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REpUB- LICS. Certain delegations have criticized here the amendments presented by the representative of the Soviet Union. The main argument upon which these objections are based is that the General Assembly resolution provides for the participation of the Conciliation Commission and that the Agreements between the partie'l likewise provide for the participation of United Nations observers. I must point out that these objections are not valid arguments against the amendments presented by the USSR delegation. The fact of the matter is that not a single General Assembly resolution lays down categorically that only the Conciliation Commission shall conduct the negotiations between the parties. On the contrary, all the decisions of the Security Council and of the General Assembly especially stress the principle that the parties should reach agreement and settle the questions :between them independently and by direct negotiation. The participation of organs of the United Nations in such matters is provided for only as one of the alternatives. - Experience has shown, however-and this is particularly clear from the report submitted to the Council by the Acting Mediator-that direct negotiations between the parties concerned have been successful; agreements have been concluded, military operations have ceased and a fairly stable armistice, which is based on legal documents, on agreements between the parties, has been established in Palestine. Furthermore, the Acting ,Mediator laid particular stress in his report on ,the fact that those Agre'ments were concluded by voluntary accord between the parties, without any outside pressure. C'est pour toutes ces raisons que nous SO!nmes persuades que le Conseil de securite doit rejeter les amendements et approuver le projet de resolution presente par le Canada et la France. Mahmoud FAWZI Bey (Egypte) (traduit de l'anglais) : Je tiens ace que l'on prerme note que ce que j'ai deja dit ce matin, apropos d'une certaine partie de la declaration du representant de la France, s'applique egalement a une partie de la declaration du representant des Etats-Unis. Toutefois, je n'ai pas l'intention de tenir continuellement un microscope en main; a mon 'avis, nous devriol1s nous en tenir aux grandes lignes, aux lignes essentielles de la question dont nous sommes saisis. Le PRESIDENT (tradllJit du russe) : Je v01:ldrais faire maintenant quelques observations en ma qualite de representant de 1'UNION DES R;EPUBLI- QUES SOCIALISTES SOVIETIQUES, Certaines delegations ont formule des critiques au sujet des amendementsqu'a soumis le representant de l'Union sovietique. Le principal argument qu'on a invoque a ce propos etait que la resolution de l'Assemblee generale prevoit la participation de la Commission de conciliation et que les accords intervenus entre les parties prevoient egalement la participation d'observateurs de 1'Organisation des Nations Unies. A mon avis, ces arguments qu 1'on presente contre les amendetp.ents soumis par la delegation de 1'URSS ne sont pas valables; en efIet, aucune n~solution: de l'Assemblee generale ne prevoit expressement que -la Commission de conciliation doive etre seule a diriger les negociations entre les parties. Au contraire, le Conseil de securite, aussi bien que l'Assemblee generale, soulignent tout particulierement, dans toutes leurs decisions, que les parties doivent mener elles-memes des pourparlers directs pour regler, d'un commun accord, les questions en litige. Ces textes ne prevoient la participation d'organes de 1'Organisation des Nations Unies que comme run des moyens possibles. Toutefois, l'experience acquise a montre - et le rapport que le Mediateur par interim a presente au Conseil le prouve d'une fa<son particulierement nette - que les pourparlers directs entre les parties interessees ont ete couronnes de succes: des accords ant ete conclus, il a ete mis fin aux operations militaires et un armistice a ete etabli en Palestine sur des bases assez solides, car il est fonde sur des documents jnridiques et sur des conventions conclues entre les parties. Le Mediateur par interim a souligne tout particulierement, dans son rapport, que les parties avaient conclu ces conventions de leur propre gre, sarIS qu'aucune pression eut ete exercee du dehors. Furthermore, this is stated even in the final text of the joint draft resolution of Canada and France. But I must also point out a contradiction in that draft resolution. On the one hand, the first paragraph of the joint draft resolution states: "Having noted with satisfaction the several Armistice Agreeme.,ts concluded by means of negotatioI].s between the parties involved in the conflict in Palestine ...". Emphasis is thus laid on the fact that the parties have reached agreement through direct negotiation. . On the other hand, in the second paragraph of the draft resolution, which refers to General Assembly resolution 194 (Ill) of 11 December 1948, it is stated that the Security Council hopes that the Governments and authorities concerned, having undertaken to "seek agreement by negotiations concluded either with the Conciliation Commission or directly, will at an early date achieve agreement on the final settlement of all questions outstanding between them". This paragraph refers to the resolution of 11 December 1948. I must remind the Council that the delegation of the Soviet Union was not in favour of that resolution and did not vote for it; but even that resolution provides for direct negotiations between the parties. The possibility of conducting nego,tiations through the Conciliation Commission is mentioned only as an alternative. Ce paragraphe fait mention de la resolution du 11 decembre 1948. Je dois faire remarquer que la delegation de l'Union sovietique n'a pas approuve cette resolution et n'a pas vote en sa faveur; mais cette resolution elle-meme prevoit des negociations directes entre les parties. C'est seulement a titre de seconde solution qu'on y envisage la possibilite d'engager des pourparlers par l'entremise de la Commission de conciliation. L'experience a montre - je le repete une fois . de plus - q~'n est inutiJe de faire interve~r un tiers qui exercerait une pression sur les parties. CeIles-ci ont volontairemenf conclu une convention d'armistice. A quoi servirait done cette intervention d'un tiers, sinon a conduire des manceuvres dont ce tiers a precisement besoin? Nous sommes obliges de conclure que ce tiers a besoin de cette intervention qui, je le souligne, ne serait .certes pas avantageuse pour les parties qui sont directement interessees au reglement des questions auxquelles elles doivent faire face. I wish, however, to emphasize again that experience has shown that there is no need for a third party which would bring pressure to bear on the parties concerned. Those parties have voluntarily concluded armistice agreements. What would be the purpose of this third party, if not to carry out some sort of manoeuvres to the advantage of outside interests ? The only construction we can place on the matter is that the intervention of a third party in these affairs is designed to meet the needs of' that third party, but I emphasize that such intervention would not benefit the parties directly interested in the settlement of the questions outstanding between t!J.em. Experience of the work of the Commission has shown that the in.tervention of that. body has often served to impede a rapprochement between the parties and the settlement of their disputes rather than to contribute to the solution of those disputes. L'experience acquise par la Commission a mohtre que l'activite de cette dernierea bien souvent compromi!; le rapprochement entre les parties et entrave le reglemellt du differend au lieu de contribuer l'aplanir. In the second part of the fourth paragraph of the draf! r~solution submitted by Canada and ..a7;~::L~~.~!':~c~rity.. C~uncil, Dans la deuxieme partie du quatrieme paragraphe du projet de resolution commun du Canada et de la France, i1 est dit que le .Conseil The delegation of the Soviet Union, therefore, wLile agreeing with some of the proposals included in the joint draft resolution of Canada and France, wishes to point out the inconsistencies contained in that text. The purpose of the amendments presented by'the USSR delegation is to show' clearly that the Council relies on the parties-indeed, it has no cause for doubting that they will come to an agreement among themselves-and that it gives them the opportunity to settle their differences independently, without pressure or interference frGm a third party, be it the Conciliation Commission, observers or anybody else. That is the substance of the amendments presented by ~he delegation of the Soviet Union. However, the Canadian draft resolution [S/136S] to which the delegation of the Soviet Union had submitted amendments, no longer exists, since it was combined with the French amendments [Sj1364] and is now before the Council as t..~e joint draft rt$olution of Cap.ada and France. The USSR del,eW\tion is therefore compelled somewhat to :ater its amendments, without, however; 2.iiecting their substance. These modifications are as follows: The second paragraph of the draft resolution of Canada and France should be replaced by the text which the SovIet Union proposed as a substitute for the second paragraph of the original Canadian draft resolution. With regard to the third paragraph of the present draft submitted by Canada and France, the delegation of the Soviet Union proposesas it did in connexion with the original Canadian Toutefois, le projet du Canada [S/1365}, auquel la delegation de .1'Union sovietique, a~a1t propose d'apporter certams amendements, n eXlste plus, puisqu'on y a incorpore les amendefl.1ents presentes par la France [S/1364}. LeConsel1 e~t saisi maintenant d'un nouveau document, asaV01r le projet de. resolution soumis conjointement par le Canada et la France. La delegation de l'UR$'S se voit done obligee de modifier, dans une certaine mesure, ses amendements, sans· toutefois e!1 changer le fond. Ces modif:.cations sont les SU1- vantes: Le deuxieme paragraphe du projet de resol~­ ti011 commun du Canada et de la France seralt remplace par celui que la delegation. de rUnion sovietique avait propose ~e s~bstitu~r ..au deuxieme paragraphe de la resolutlOn prtmlt1Ve du Canada. Pour ce. qui est du troisieme paragraphe du texte nctue! du projet presente par le Canadfl et la France, la delegation de l'Union soviettque propose, de meme qu'elle ravait fait pour le pro-rrr1 The third amendment proposed by the delegation of the Soviet Union is new and is considered ess~ntial : namely, the deletion of the sixth, seventh and eighth paragraphs of the draft resolution of Canada and France. In my previous statement [43Sth meeting], and again at this meeting, I have set forth in detail the reasons for which the USSR delegation proposes the deletion of those paragraphs. I believe that those reasons are clear to everyone. . If these amendments are accepted, the Council will have before it a draft resolution which will be consistent throughout, which will no longer contain the contradictions apparent in the present draft resolution of Canada and France and which can be adopted unanimously. Speaking again as PRESIDENT, I wish to state that I have no more speakers on my list. Does any.one else wish to speak? Since no one else wishes to speak, I shall put to the vote the draft resolutions and the amendments thereto. The Council has before it the joint draft resolution submitted by Canada and Norway [Sj1362]; the joint draft resolution submitted by Canada and France [S/1367]; and, finally, the amendments thereto proposed by the delegation of the Soviet Union. The text of these amendments has not yet been distributed to the Council, but the representative . of the Secretariat says that it will be ready in a few minutes. I take it that the members of the Council are familiar with these amendments f'l:on1 the previous document; they have remained substantially unchanged. . If nobody else wishes to speak, the Council will proceed to the consideration of these draft resolutions and amendments. Mr. SMITH (Canada): I do not wish to (' lay the Council, but it seems to my delegation more appropriate for the draft resolution submitted jointly by Canada and Norway to be voted on after the substantive draft resolution submitted by Canada and France.

I should like to point out to .the representative IlI,t.Canad.a that the joint draft resolution of In M. SMITH (Canada) (traduit de l'anglais): Je ne voudrais pasfaire perdre de temps au Conseil, mais l11a delegation estime qu'il serait preferable de l11ettre aux voix le projet de resolution presenteen commun par le Canada et la Norvegeapres le projet de resolution du Canada et de la France, qui traite du fond de la question. Le PRESIDENT (traduit du russe) : Je voudrais signaler au representant du Canada que le projet de resolution commtin du Canada et de la Not- Mr. SMITH (Canada): I am quite prepared to follow the wishes of the President in this matter. The PRESIDENT. (translated from Russian): I believe that since this draft resolution has been before the Council for some time, it will not be necessary to read out the text, and I think that this draft resolution could be adopted by the Council. If there are no changes or additions to the text, I shall consider the draft resolution as a whole adopted. i • The PRESIDENT (translated from Russian): The Council will now proceed to the considera- tion of the joint draft resolution submitted by . Canada and France. It must first·· consider and ;vote on the proposed USSR amendments to that draft resolution. The text of these' amendments [5/1375] has now been circulated among the members of the Council. We shall start with these amendments. If there is a proposal that the draft resolution of Canada and France should be considered paragraph by paragraph, the Council will" begin with the consideration ,of the first paragraph; and when we reach the second paragraph, we shall first vote on the Soviet Union amendment there- to and we shall then vote on the paragraph itself, and so on. If, however, we do not consider the draft resolution paragraph by paragraph, we shall consider the USSR amendments first. Since there has been no request for a para- graph by paragraph consideration of the draft resolution of Canada and France, the Council will proceed to the consideration of the amend- ments of the Soviet Union. Under the first USSR amendment the second paragraph of the Joint draft resolution would be replaced by the following text: "Expresses the hope that the Governments concerned will, by means of direct negotiations, achieve agreement at an early date on the final settlement of all questions outstanding'between them." If no one wishes to comment on this amend- ment, I shall put it to the vote.

The third USSR amendment calls for the deletion of the sixth, seventh and eighth paragraphs of t~e joint draft resolution. In favour: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Against: Canada, Cuba, France, Norway, United Kingdom, United States of America. Abstaining: Argentina, China, Egypt. The amendment was rejected by 6 votes to 2, with 3 abstentions.

The Council will now proceed to a vote on the joint draft resolution submitted by Canada and France [5/1367]. As there has been no request for a vote paragraph by paragraph, I shall put this draft resolution to the vote as a whole. Le PRESIDENT (traduit du fusse) : Le Conseil passe maintenant au vote sur le projet de resolution soumis par le Canada et la FraIice [5/1367]. ?uisque personne ne demande que ce texte soit mis aux voix paragraphe par paragraphe, le vote . portera sur l'ensemble du projet de resolution.