of common services necessary to the safety and well-being of the population, to assure the protection of the Holy Places, and to promote a peaceful adjustment of the future situation of Palestine. The same resolution of the Assembly relieved the Palestine Commission from the further exercise of its authority under the resolution of November 29, 1947. Count Folke Bernadotte of Sweden was appointed Mediator. At the expiration of the British mandate for Palestine at midnight, May 14, 1948, the Provisional Government of Israel proclaimed the independence of the state of Israel. The President of the United States gave immediate de facto recognition to the Provisional Government of Israel.

Expansion of Hostilities

Following the termination of the British mandate, armed conflict in Palestine itself continued to increase, including not only the Arabs of Palestine but the neighboring states as well. Egypt, Transjordan, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon became involved and clashed with Israeli forces in various sectors of the Holy Land. It was announced in Cairo that the Egyptian armed forces had started to enter Palestine "to establish security and order". From the United Nations aspect, prompt steps were taken to meet this overt breach of international peace and security. On May 22 the Security Council adopted a resolution calling upon all governments and authorities, without prejudice to the rights, claims, or position of the parties concerned, to abstain from any hostile military action in Palestine and to that end to issue a cease-fire order to become effective within 36 hours after midnight New York standard time, May 22, 1948.

This resolution did not suffice, however, to terminate hostilities in Palestine. In consequence, on May 29 the Security Council adopted a resolution which reaffirmed its cease-fire order, to be effective not later than 6 p. m. New York time, on June 1, 1948. This resolution called upon the governments or authorities concerned to order a cessation of all acts of armed force for a period of four weeks, during which time they should not introduce fighting personnel or war material into Palestine or the Arab states. Should men of military age enter these countries, the governments concerned should undertake not to mobilize or submit them to military training during the ceasefire. The United Nations Mediator for Palestine, in concert with the Truce Commission, was instructed to supervise the observance of these provisions, aided by a sufficient number of military observers. The resolution concluded with the decision that if it should be rejected by either party or by both, or if, having been accepted, it should

subsequently be repudiated, the situation in Palestine would be reconsidered with a view to action under chapter VII of the Charter, "Action with Respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression".

Both the Provisional Government of Israel and the Arab Governments concerned signified their willingness to observe the cease-fire order as of June 1. The United Nations Mediator promptly undertook his new and enlarged responsibilities. The group of military observers, originally made up of 21 officers each from the United States, Belgium, and France, was progressively expanded until it finally included approximately 300 officers and men each from France and the United States and 150 officers and men from Belgium. The United States Government, in its desire to give the fullest cooperation to the Mediator, likewise lent Count Bernadotte three destroyers to serve as picket vessels off the coast of Palestine; furnished aircraft, jeeps, and other transportation facilities; and provided the Mediator with a complete communications network, linking his headquarters on the island of Rhodes with his field stations in Palestine and with the United Nations itself at Lake Success, N. Y.

Although there were repeated incidents in which each side charged the other with violation of the truce, by and large, thanks to the unremitting endeavors of Count Bernadotte and his staff including the tri-nation military observers, the truce established under the resolution of May 29 was effective.

End of Cease-Fire; Resumption of Hostilities

When the four weeks' cease-fire expired, the hostilities were resumed. The armed forces of Israel now proved superior in the field to the combined Arab armies. The Israeli army was able to drive through a corridor to the beleaguered Jews in Jerusalem, although this was not a part of Israeli territory. It was again obvious that international peace and security were daily being further menaced by the continuous warfare in Palestine which threatened the peace of the entire Middle East. In consequence this Government took the lead in securing the adoption of an additional cease-fire resolution by the Security Council on July 15. This resolution went further than any preceding decision of the Security Council in that it determined that the situation in Palestine constituted a threat to the peace within the meaning of article 39 of the Charter. It ordered the governments and authorities concerned, pursuant to article 40, to desist from further military action and to issue cease-fire orders to take effect at a time to be determined by the Mediator but, in any event, not

later than three days from the date of the adoption of the resolution. Should any of the governments or authorities concerned fail to comply with this order, such failure would demonstrate the existence of a breach of the peace within the meaning of article 39 of the Charter, requiring immediate consideration by the Council with a view to such further action under chapter VII of the Charter as might be decided upon by the Council. In addition, as a matter of special and urgent necessity, an immediate and unconditional cease-fire was ordered in the City of Jerusalem, to take effect within 24 hours, and the Mediator was instructed to continue his efforts to bring about demilitarization of Jerusalem without prejudice to its future political status. This resolution on July 15 was of indefinite duration; the Council decided that the truce should remain in force until a peaceful adjustment of the future situation of Palestine was reached.

Faced with this most emphatic of the Security Council's actions, the parties to the conflict in Palestine by and large paid heed to the Security Council's order. On July 17 the cease-fire for Jerusalem went into effect at 0545 local time, and the truce spread rapidly to other fronts throughout the country, becoming finally effective on the following day. This truce was continued, with sporadic violations on both sides, well into October 1948, when renewed and serious fighting broke out in the Negeb in southern Palestine.

Mediator's Suggestions for Settlement

Meanwhile, on the political front, the United Nations Mediator, Count Bernadotte, on June 28 and 29 had submitted to the parties three papers setting forth in outline his suggestions for a possible approach to the peaceful adjustment of the future situation in that country. In essence he proposed that Palestine compose a union of two members, one Arab and one Jewish, whose boundaries would be fixed by negotiation on the basis of suggestions made by the Mediator. The functions and authority of the Union would be exercised through a central council, but each member of the partnership would exercise full control over its own affairs, including foreign relations. The Mediator proposed that the whole or part of the Negeb should become Arab territory, while the whole or part of Western Galilee should be Jewish territory. The City of Jerusalem would be in Arab territory but with municipal autonomy for the Jewish community and special arrangements for the protection of the Holy Places.

Both the Arab Governments and the Provisional Government of Israel rejected these proposals by Count Bernadotte.

In August the truce was repeatedly breached with particular vehemence in and about Jerusalem. Count Bernadotte, in a telegram

dated August 18, informed the Security Council of his concern. He said that not only had firing practically never ceased in Jerusalem but the situation was rapidly getting out of hand. Under prevailing conditions and hampered by the lack of sufficient military observers he found it difficult to assess responsibility and idle to try to ascertain which of the parties was more to blame. Nevertheless he feared that further deterioration of the situation in Jerusalem might lead to a general resumption of hostilities and requested the Security Council to take prompt action with a view to giving effect to its resolution of July 15.

On the following day, August 19, the Security Council adopted a resolution reaffirming its order of July 15 and deciding, among other things, that "No party is permitted to violate the Truce on the ground that it is undertaking reprisals or retaliations against the other party. No party is entitled to gain military or political advantage through violation of the Truce."

The Bernadotte Plan

As the result of his consultations with the governments concerned and in light of the changed military situation in Palestine, Count Bernadotte made one final attempt to suggest the elements of a solution based on justice and containing the germ of a lasting peace. In a report dated September 16, two days before his assassination in the City of Jerusalem, Count Bernadotte made his last proposals to the Members of the United Nations. He set forth seven basic premises as the for adation for the Bernadotte Plan and from these drew eleven specific conclusions. The seven premises dealt with return to peace, the existence of a Jewish state called Israel, the need to fix boundaries of this new state, the establishment of continuous frontiers on the principle of geographic homogeneity, the right of repatriation of refugees, special provisions to safeguard Jerusalem, and the recognition of international responsibility, possibly in the form of international guaranties for the permanent pacification of Palestine. Among his specific conclusions Count Bernadotte advocated that the uneasy truce should be superseded by a permanent and formal armistice. The frontiers should be established by the United Nations and delimited by a boundaries commission. Count Bernadotte thought that these frontiers should be simplified. He would give the southern portion of Palestine-the desert area known as "the Negeb," south of a line running from the sea near Majdal to Faluja-to the Arabs. In return all of Galilee would be defined as Jewish territory, as well as the city of Jaffa. That part of Palestine left to the Arab population would be left for disposal to the Governments of the Arab states

in full consultation with the Arab inhabitants of Palestine, with the Mediator's recommendation, however, that there would be compelling reasons for merging the Arab territory of Palestine with that of Transjordan. Count Bernadotte felt that the United Nations should undertake to provide special assurance that these boundaries be respected and maintained. He likewise thought that Haifa should be a free port and Lydda a free airport, while Jerusalem should be treated separately and placed under effective United Nations control with unimpeded access to the city respected by all parties. The United Nations should affirm the right of the Arab refugees to return to their homes in Jewish-controlled territory at the earliest possible date, and those choosing not to return should be compensated. Finally, the United Nations should establish a Palestine Conciliation Commission to give effect to these specific conclusions.

Count Bernadotte's Assassination

Count Bernadotte was murdered on the day his proposals were forwarded to the United Nations in Paris. The United States Government, in common with other governments Members of the United Nations, feels a profound sense of gratitude to the slain Mediator for his untiring and unbiased efforts, culminating in the sacrifice of his own life in a cause which he had made his own-that of contributing to the restoration of peace based on justice.

On September 21, three days after Count Bernadotte's assassination, the Secretary of State publicly proclaimed his support of Count Bernadotte's conclusions and recommended that the Assembly adopt them. Meanwhile, Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, Count Bernadotte's principal assistant, was named by the Security Council as Acting Mediator.

Fighting Breaks Out in the Negeb

The General Assembly, convened in its Third Session in Faris, felt that other problems deserved more immediate consideration, and in consequence the Bernadotte proposals were not immediately taken up in the First Committee. Meanwhile military events supervened. On October 14 the armed forces of Israel undertook a general offensive in the Negeb against Egyptian forces which had heretofore held the line from Majdal to Faluja and had occupied in garrison strength the town of Beersheba and the port of Gaza. The Egyptian forces were routed from Majdal and Beersheba, while the garrison of Faluja remained encircled and besieged beyond the end of the year.

To meet this situation, the Council adopted a resolution on October 19 reminding the governments and authorities concerned that all the