regime for Jerusalem ion the basis of the December 11 Assembly Reso-
lution. It Will be necessary to give some directives to Mr. Ethridge and
for this purpose four possible alternatives are outlined at the end of
this paper for your consideration.
  Until now the discussions with Israel and Transjordan on this sub-
ject have led to no agreement, except ithat both parties reject any fafr-
reaching scheme of internationalization. The Prime Minister of Israel
flatly stated to -the Commission at Tel Aviv 7th of April that. the
Israeli Government accepted without reservation- the international
regime for the holy places, but. maintained that Jerusalem outside the
holy places.should be a part of the State of Israel". He added that
the
State of Israel "would take its case on the Jerusalem question to the
General Assembly".
  A ,recent telegram from Mr. Ethridge '(Palun 127)2 outlires a pro-
posal which combines certain elements of the French paper and vari-
ous unofficial suggestions by the USDel which Mr. Ethridge thinks
represents a sound basis for the Commission'is recommendations to the
General Assembly. This combined draft, which is the basis of Alter-
native 2 below, is based on a minimal international obligation for
Jerusalem-under which a United Nations Administrator appointed by
the General Assembly would have direct control over the holy places,
including power to control access to them and decide disputes regard-
ing them. The Jewish and Arab authorities respectively would -be
responsible for the day-to-day ,administration over the ir respective
zones. Jerusalem would be demilitarized and formal assurances given
by the two parties regarding inviolability of demarcation lines. This
proposal appears to follow fairly closely the 1line indicated by the
Secretary to'Mr. Sharett on April 5.
  This memorandum sketches four possible approaches to the Jerusa-
lem problem.
Alternatives
  1. International control of holy places alone.
  'The PCC might recommend that it was inadvisable or impossible
to giveconcrete expression to the international interest in Jerusalem
other than by providing for United Nations control of specified holy
places in the Jerusalem area. This control could be exercised by:a
United Nations Administrator designated by and responsible to the
General Assembly. The Administrator would have power to ;make
regulations for use of holy place guards. The expenses of the Adminis-
trator, an appropriate staff, and the guards would be met by the United
Nations budget. This arrangement for United Nations control of the
holy places would be subject to approval by the General Assembly and
  "Identified also as telegram 300, April 16, from Jerusalem, p. 920.


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