Resolution 106
(May 15, 1947)
The problems facing the General
Assembly in connection with the commission of inquiry
centered on its composition, the scope of its
investigation and the role of the Great Powers.
While the United States wanted to exclude the
Great Powers, the Soviet Union argued for their
inclusion. The Soviet delegate, Andrei Gromyko,
asked that the commission consider immediate
independence for Palestine. On 15 May 1947,
the Assembly resolved to create an 11-nation
committee on Palestine (UNSCOP). The Resolution
was adopted by 47 in favour, 7 against (Egypt,
Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Afghanistan
and Turkey) and one abstention (Thailand).
WHEREAS the General Assembly of the United Nations
has been called into special session for the purpose
of constituting and instructing a Special Committee
to prepare for the consideration at the next regular
session of the Assembly a report on the question of
Palestine,
The General Assembly
Resolve that:
1. A Special Committee be created for
the above-mentioned purpose consisting of the representatives
of Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, India, Guatemala,
Iran, Netherlands, Peru, Sweden, Uruguay and Yugoslavia;
2. The Special Committee shall have the widest powers
to ascertain and record facts, and to investigate
all questions and issues relevant to the problem
of Palestine;
3. The Special Committee shall determine
its own procedure;
4. The Special Committee shall conduct investigations
in Palestine and wherever it may deem useful, receive
and examine written or oral testimony, whichever
it may consider appropriate in each case, from the
mandatory Power, from representatives of the population
of Palestine, from Governments and from such organisations
and individuals as it may deem necessary;
5. The Special Committee shall give most careful
consideration to the religious interests in Palestine
of Islam, Judaism and Christianity;
6. The Special Committee shall prepare a report
to the General Assembly and shall submit such proposals
as it may consider appropriate for the solution of
the problem of Palestine;
7. The Special Committee's report shall be communicated
to the SecretaryGeneral not later than 1 September
1947, in order that it may be circulated to the Members
of the United Nations in time for consideration by
the Second Regular Session of the General Assembly;
The General Assembly
8. Requeststhe Secretary-General to enter
into suitable arrangements with the proper authorities
of any State in whose territory the Special Committee
may wish to sit or to travel, to provide necessary
facilities, and to assign appropriate staff to the
Special Committee;
9. Authorisesthe Secretary-General
to reimburse travel and subsistence expenses of a
representative and an alternate representative from
each government represented on the Special Committee
on such basis and in such form as he may determine
most appropriate in the circumstances.
Sources: The United Nations |