Evening star., 1947-03-11
Unprecedented Issue!
Feared in Palestine
Submission 10 j. n.
BY fhs Assoeiotsd Press

LAKE SUCCESS, N. Y, Mar. IL
United Nations officials privately
fear that introduction Of the ex-
plosive Palestine problem here will
bring q series Of unprecedented
headaches to the young peace
agency.
Never before has the q. N. been
called on to handle q question cut
ting such wide path across re-
ligious, racial and national lines.
Questions strictly between govern
menrs have turned up many pro-
cedural problems, but most Of these
could be solved within the frame
work of q. N. rules and regulations.
Palestine brings new major issues
such as these:
l. Who will speak for the Jews?
There is no jewish government and
only sovereign nations may argue
officially in the General Assembly,
Security Council or Trusteeship
Council. This issue is pointed up by
the fact that the Arabs will have q
galaxy Of spokesmen through the
presence Of five Arab states in the
Assembly and one each In the Sc
curity and Trusteeship Councils.
2. What states shall be declared
"neutral?" This problem came to
the front early through sugges-
ton for special commission of
the Big Five and small neutral
states to study the whole contro-
yersy. TIE Arabs Immediately con-
tended that they we're as neutral"
as the United States or Great Brit
ain, which would have seats on the
body.
Two Courses Open to Jews.
In regard to the first question,
the Jews apparently can take one
OF two courses-either get some
country to sponsor their statements
to make them acceptable officially
or circulate directly to delegates
through q list Of home addresses.
Under current regulations any
member government may use the
facilities Of the U. N. to circulate
statements with the sole stipulation
that such data must deal with an
issue being considered by the world
agency. Thus any member of the
Arab League has the right to call
on the U. N. to pass out as much
material IS desired on an official
basis.
At present there are 18 Jewish
groups registered with the q. N. as
n on g gove r nmental organizations.
This brings them permanent spec
tator seats for meetings. access to
official documents and the right to
attend special background confer
ences held by the U. N. itself.
The groups have no right, how
ever, to circulate documents to dele
gates and to the Assembly and
Councils through official channels.
The organizations may forward
such complaints, resolutions, and
suggestions to Secretary General
Irygve Lie, who may list them in
memoranda to the IS nations. OF.
fetal publication can follow only
at the specific request of a govern
ment.
Category b Rights Urged.
The Jewish Agency for Palestine
and the World Jewish Congress have
been recommended for Category B
rights as nongovernmental organi-
zations in the Eeouou1ic and So
cial Council. This would give little
additional rights except that Of be-
ing invited by the council to con-
suit on issues affecting them di-
rectly.
However. even this privilege would
not extend to the Assembly or other
two councils, one of which appar-
emily will deal with the whole issue
Of the Holy Land.
Besides the Jewish Agency and
the World Congress, the organiza-
tions registered with the u. N. in
clude:
American Jewish Congress, Amer
ican League TO ra Free Palestine,
B'nai Birth, Hadassah, Jewish Labor
Committee, Jewish War Veterans of
the United States, National Council
OF Jewish Women, Agudas Israel
World Organization, Agudath Israel
Youth Council of America, Ameri-
can Council for Judaism, American
Jewish Committee, American Jew
ish Conference, National Jewish
Welfare Board, Union of Sephardic
Congregations, Canadian Jewish
Congress and Cooperative Council
Of Jewish Agencies.