(Special plane assigned to Mediator)
DATE FLIGHT Special flight:
May 1948.
27: Paris, Rome, Athens.
28: Athens, Cairo.
31: Cairo, Haifa.
June.
1: Haifa, Mafrak, Amman, Mafrak, Cairo.
3: Cairo, Mafrak, Amman, Haifa.
4: Haifa, Cairo.
5: Cairo, Beirut.
6: Beirut, Haifa, Mafrak, Amman, Mafrak. Haifa.
1: Rhodes, Jerusalem. 2: Jerusalem, Rhodes.
3: Rhodes, Cairo.
4: Cairo, Rhodes.
5-6: Rhodes, Tel-Aviv, Cairo.
7: Cairo, Tel-Aviv, Haifa.
8: Haifa. Rhodes.
9: Rhodes, Amman, Haifa, Beirut, Rhodes.
10: Rhodes, Rome, Geneva.
11: Geneva, Amsterdam.
Commercial airline:
11-12: Amsterdam, Prestwick, Gander, La Guardia.
17: La Guardia, Gander, Prestwick.
13: Geneva, Stockholm.
September.
1: Stockholm, Copenhagen, Paris.
2: Paris, Geneva, Rome.
3: Rome, Rhodes.
6: Rhodes, Alexandria.
8: Alexandria, Mafrak, Amman, Mafrak, Haifa.
9: Haifa. Tel-Aviv, Rhodes.
PART TWO
THE SUPERVISION OF THE TWO TRUCES I . INTRODUCTION
1. General Assembly resolution 186 (S/2) of 14 May 1948 empowered the United Nations Mediator "to co-operate with the Truce
Commission for Palestine appointed by the Security Council in its resolution of 23 April 1948" and directed him "to conform in his activities with the provisions of this resolution, and with such instructions as the General Assembly or the Security Council may issue." On 29 May 1948, the Security Council adopted a resolution (S/801) calling on all Governments and authorities concerned to order a cessation of all acts of armed force for a period of four weeks, and to undertake, during the cease-fire, not to introduce fighting personnel into Palestine and the seven Arab States during the cease-fire, and, should men of military age be introduced into countries or territories under their control, to undertake not to mobilize or submit them to military training; and to refrain from importing or exporting war material into or to Palestine and the seven Arab States. All
Governments and authorities concerned were also urged to take every possible precaution for the protection of Jerusalem and the Holy Places, including access to all shrines and sanctuaries for the purpose
provisions, and decides that they shall be provided with a sufficient number of military observers."
2. I undertook the task of mediation on 21 May 1948, and proceeded to Cairo on 28 May in pursuance of my duties. On 2 June, I was informed by the President of the Security Council that both the Arab and Jewish authorities had accepted unconditionally the cease-fire resolution of 29 May, and in pursuance of the action of the Security Council on 2 June, I was instructed, in consultation with the two parties and Truce Commission, to fix the effective date for the cease-fire in as short a period as possible. 1 discovered that each party, though accepting the cease-fire in principle, did so With important reservations. It was therefore necessary to negotiate with the two parties the terms and conditions of the truce as well as the effective date for its commencement. Owing to the existence of war conditions it was impossible to consult fully with the Truce Commission in Jerusalem, but, within the limitation of uncertain and at times non-existent communications, I kept the Commission informed of the progress of the truce negotiations and received from the Commission full assurances of their co-operation.
3. The provisions of the Security Council's resolution of 29 May were somewhat general in their language, but it was clear that the intention of the resolution was to bring about a cessation of hostilities in Palestine while ensuring that no military advantage would accrue to either side during the period of the truce or as a result of its
application. After intensive discussions with both parties I made certain interpretations of the resolution and certain decisions as to its application which were accepted by both parties on 9 June, and the four-week truce went into effect on 11 June 1948. The terms of the truce agreement are set out in document S/829.
4. The first truce lasted until 9 July 1948. During the last week of the truce I made intensive efforts to obtain a renewal or prolongation of the truce, in the first place appealing to the parties for a thirty-day
prolongation of the truce, and later for a ten-day unconditional cease-fire. The Provisional Government of Israel was willing to accept both proposals but the Arab States would accept neither, and hostilities broke out again on 8 July. On 10 July I departed for Lake Success where 1 presented my report to the Security Council in person (S/888).
5. On 15 July the Security Council adopted a resolution (S/902) which declared that the situation in Palestine was a threat to the peace, and therefore brought the case under the terms of Chapter VII of the Charter. The resolution was as follows:
"The Security Council,
"Taking into consideration that the Provisional Government of Israel has indicated its acceptance in principle of a prolongation of the truce in Palestine; that the States members of the Arab League have rejected successive appeals of the United Nations Mediator, and of the
Security Council in its resolution of 7 July 1948, for the prolongation of the truce in Palestine; and that there has consequently developed a renewal of hostilities in Palestine;
"Determines that the situation in Palestine constitutes a threat to the peace within the meaning of Article 39 of the Charter;
"Orders the Governments and authorities concerned, pursuant to Article 40 of the Charter of the United Nations, to desist from further military action and to this end to issue ceasefire orders to their military and para-military forces, 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 this resolution;