Editorial Note
On or about April 23, the Department submitted for White House clearance a draft resolution to be introduced into the Security Council, which read as follows: “The Security Council establishes a truce commission for Palestine composed of representatives of those members of the Security Council except Syria which have career consular officers in Jerusalem, whose functions shall be to assist the Security Council in bringing about the implementation of the resolution of the Security Council of 17 April, 1948; requests the commission to report to the President of the Security Council within 48 hours regarding its activities and the development of the situation, and subsequently to keep the Security Council currently informed with respect thereto.” A marginal notation by Mr. McClintock on a carbon copy of the draft resolution notes Presidential approval at 5 p. m., April 23 (501.BB Palestine/4–2348).
At the meeting of the Council on the same day, Ambassador Austin introduced the draft resolution, but added a preamble and two paragraphs dealing with the right of travel by the proposed Commission and the furnishing of personnel to it. The text of the draft, as introduced, [Page 853] is printed in SC, 3rd yr., No. 62, page 15. During the discussion that followed, Ambassador Austin accepted a number of amendments. In the ensuing voting, the Council accepted the resolution calling for establishment of a truce commission, by eight votes in favor, with the Colombian, Soviet, and Ukrainian Representatives abstaining. For the official text of the resolution, numbered 48 (1948), see SC, 3rd yr., Resolutions, 1948, page 17.