January 19, 1948 United Nations Sponsored Peace Conference

United Nations Palestine Commission

1. At the outset of its work the Commission recognized the importance to the implementation of the Plan of the co-operation of the Mandatory Power and the Arab and Jewish communities. The General Assembly has accepted the Arab Higher Committee and the Jewish Agency for Palestine as qualified spokesmen for their respective communities. While bearing in mind that it would need to consult other organizations, particularly with a view to selecting the two Provisional Councils of Government, the Commission decided at its first meeting to request the Secretary.  General to extend to the Arab Higher Committee and the Jewish Agency the same invitation which was being extended to the Mandatory Power: “to designate such representatives as it may determine, who shall be available to the Commission for such authoritative information and other assistance as the Commission may require in the discharge of its functions …”
2. The invitation was accepted by the Mandatory Power, who designated Sir Alexander Cadogan as its representative, and by the Jewish Agency, who designated Mr. Moshe Shertok. THE ARAB HIGHER COMMITTEE INFORMED THE SECRETARY-GENERAL BY TELEGRAM ON 19 JANUARY THAT IT WAS UNABLE TO ACCEPT THE INVITATION EXTENDED TO IT, AND THAT IT WAS “DETERMINED TO PERSIST IN REJECTION PARTITION AND IN REFUSAL RECOGNIZE UNO RESOLUTION THIS RESPECT AND ANYTHING DERIVING THEREFROM.”

Source: United Nations Palestine Commission Report to the Special Assembly,  p. 7. 1946-1947