without at the outset going into the more difficult questions. Mr.
Yalcin wondered whether the United ‘States Government would have
the patience to. bear with the mediation since this course of action
would undoubtedly take a very long time. >

Mr. McGhee said that he agreed that the Commission 1 should inform
the Israelis of the Arab desire for mediation and also felt that if
Israel refused, it would place itself in a bad light. He suggested
that there were a number of smaller matters which could be dealt with
through mediation and suggested that the question of Mount ; Seopus
might be one: of them.
_ Mr. Sandifer indicated his belief that the Commission could under-
take the mediation functions in that the Commission was empowered to
conciliate which was a broader concept than mediation. It was pointed
out that under the General Assembly Resolution of December 11, 1948
the Palestine Conciliation Commission had, in any event, inherited
Count. Bernadotte’s mediation functions under the General Assembly
Resolution of May 14,1948.
_ Mr. McGhee then. explained briefly our views on the proposed orga-
nization. of United Nations functions with respect to the Palestine case
and indicated our belief that it was desirable to have a United Nations
coordinating agent who could ensure that the three operating groups,
PCC, UNRPR, and NEDA were functioning in unison. Since all the
questions involved in the. Palestine problem are inter-related, it is
desirable that. the three groups be coordinated. Mr. McGhee empha- .
sized that these plans are entirely tentative. |

Mr. Boisanger said that he was in general agreement with the pro-
posed organization but felt it very important that in the General
Assembly no substantive questions be raised. In this connection, he felt
that the PCC should remain as it is in order that its terms of reference
under the December 11 Resolution would remain the same. With
respect to NEDA he said that he was worried by the possibility that
Russia could join the organization. Mr..Yalcin expressed the same
concern. It was explained that NEDA would be formed by the partici-
pating . governments and additional membership could be limited by
those governments. It could be assumed, therefore, that the Govern-
ments ‘concerned would not permit Russia to join. Mr. Yalcin pointed
out that if the PCC consisted of representatives of Governments, it
would not be possible for the United Nations Coordinating Agent to
instruct the PCC on political matters. _ |

- Mr. McGhee said that we agreed that it was desirable to limit the
debate in the General Assembly to procedural matters if possible and
we felt that the proposed resolution on organization could confine
the debate. |