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if the intention is sincere in solving this question in accordance with right and in the Arabs’ interest.

The Arab Higher Committee hopes to draw attention to the fact that the difficulty of the international position under present conditions places the Arab governments in a position from which they can impose their wishes for resolving the Palestine question.

For these reasons, and in view of the great responsibility imposed by the country’s present circumstances, the Arab Higher Committee believes it is its duty to express its opposition to the trusteeship system. It hopes that the Arab governments will adopt this view and instruct their representatives at the United Nations to act accordingly.

When the UN General Assembly met on 16 April 1948 in a special session to consider the Palestine question, the American representative proposed in a statement to the Political Committee that the Assembly approve “temporary trusteeship” over Palestine. He said his government was ready to participate in preserving order through a police force if the other states agreed to participate.

The Soviet representative rejected the American proposal and insisted on implementing partition. The British representative called for implementing the truce before anything else, given the seriousness of the situation. The French representative called for a truce in Jerusalem if the truce did not cover all of Palestine.

The Arab representatives agreed to the French proposal, but the American representative called for the United Nations to appoint a mediator chosen by the representatives of the five great powers. His task would be to protect holy places and religious rites in Palestine, cooperate with the consular truce committee mentioned earlier, and handle other matters serving the welfare and happiness of Palestine’s inhabitants. This naturally led to the Partition Commission ceasing its work. The Political Committee and the General Assembly approved the American proposal, and finally it was agreed to appoint Count Folke Bernadotte as international mediator on 30 May 1948.

Regarding the proposed truce, the Arab Higher Committee submitted the following memorandum, dated 15 April 1948, to the Political Committee of the Arab League. It contained its reservations about the proposed truce:

1. If the Jews accept the truce, their organized forces will withdraw to their barracks with their weapons and equipment and will continue receiving supplies by land and sea during the truce through