THE TRIUMPH AT RHODES
Weltsch, Robert
THE TRIUMPH AT RHODES By Robert Weltsch New header Roving Correspondent in Europe RHODES—One of the most curious peace conferences that ever happened in history is now taking place in the...
...WHILE THE ISRAELI and Transjordan delegations are assembled here under the roof of the Hotel des Roses, and under the protection and guidance of Dr...
...of humanity so essential in such a delicate job...
...This is primarily true with respect to frontiers, and to the intricate question of Jerusalem, which is divided between Israel and Transjordan...
...That resolution summoned the parties to enter - into armistice negotiations which would end the war, without prejudice to a future political solution...
...It will prove much more difficult in the negotiations with Trans Jordan...
...He first discusses procedures with each delegation separately...
...Egypt, Tranajordan, and Lebanon, however, accepted the invitation...
...At the moment he is master of the Old City which contains all the Holy Shrines, and he wants to annex the Eastern part of the country where the Palestinian Arab masses live...
...The immediate object is to end the war, without der ciding any of the political questions...
...But after a fortnight, the military lines of a permanent armistice have already been discussed in joint meeting of both delegations—more progress than was made with the Egyptians over a similar period...
...Dr.Bunche's office on the first floor of the hotel is a sort of mystery cabinet, and all proposals he makes therein remain secret until they are uccepted...
...Bunche is called the "acting" Mediator, but after six months it can be said that no person could be found to surpass him in wisdom, impartiality, deep understanding, and that so r^s...
...Bunche...
...For Dr...
...Assembly almost one year ago, on the very day when the British laid down tho Mandate and the Jews proclaimed the State of Israel...
...But King Abdullah's Transjordan has a real interest in Palestine...
...This was possible, to a certain degree, with Egypt, and also with Lebanon...
...Moreover, the Arab I,»,fion> Trnnsjordnn's army, was not defeated on the battlefield, as were the Egyptians and the Lebanese, who are conducting their armistice negotiations with Israel not in Rhodes but on the Lebanese border...
...When Bernadotte was murdered in the Jewish sector of Jerusalem in September, 1948, the whole world was shocked, but the U.N...
...On this fateful May 14, 1948, Count Bernadotte was appointed mediator between the Jows and Arabs, and he decided to set up his headquarters at Rhodes...
...This, however, was never done, for reasons which were not explained...
...Bunche, the real problems of Palestine, still unsolved, are bound to arise...
...It takes a long time before discussions start during these armistice negotiations, because Dr...
...decided to continue the work of mediation and to appoint a successor...
...His basic conviction is that any solution can only be reached by mutual and voluntary ugreenu-nt, He clings strictly to his job as a mediator...
...Egypt is the biggest and best integrated of the Arab states...
...THE TRIUMPH AT RHODES By Robert Weltsch New header Roving Correspondent in Europe RHODES—One of the most curious peace conferences that ever happened in history is now taking place in the Hotel des Roses in Rhodes, the easternmost of the Mediterranean islands, which i« now a part of Greece...
...At a later date, the Rhodes negotiations will be described in detail as u new experiment in conciliation, and as a major achievement of the United Nations...
...For a settlement of many military issues could easily prove to be political faits accompli...
...Abdullah wishes to be crowned in Jerusalem...
...at Lake Success...
...Ralph Bunche, Amerioan Negro professor, to carry on as long as the vacancy lasted, and that practically meant forever...
...It may be assumed that it would have been very difficult to find a man suitable for the post and wjlling to accept it...
...but on the other hand she is not directly interested in Palestine...
...But simultaneously a formal cease fire agreement covering the whole front was signed here by both delegations...
...It was very difficult to get the Arab states to consent to such an arrangement, as negotiations with Israel naturally implied tacit recognition of the existence of thht state—the very thing the Arabs did not want to concede...
...requested the first secretary of the mediator's office, Dr...
...The fact that the Arab states reacted independently and differently to Dr...
...In the meantime, the U.N...
...Over the' main entrance to the hotel flies the blue flag of the United Nations, and inside there is the headquarters of the "Mediator for Palestine," an office created by the U.N...
...then informs each of the other's attitude, goes back again, and so on until some common ground is reached...
...At the very beginning of the Rhodes talks, Israel's occupation of a strip on the Red Sea coast Inside Palestinian territory, caused considerable excitement and a flood of sensational stories...
...i Bunche, although confined to Rhodes, maintains close contact with a vast organization of observers arid travelling delegates in the field, and with the U.N...
...The Rhodes conference is reaching its climax...
...Bunche has developed his own methods of concilia-' tion, which are adapted to this special situation...
...IT MUST be remembered that this is technically an armistice conference and not a peace conference...
...Up to the moment, two of the more-important Arab states, Syria and Iraq, have not yet replied...
...Bundle's invitation, notwithstanding the frequent meetings of the, Arab League, is certainly tantamount to a breakdown of that League as a political instrument...
...THE RESOLUTION of the Security Council of November 16, 1948, gave Dr...
...After protracted negotiations, Israel and Egypt signed an, armistice at Rhodes on February 24...
...Bunche had to send roving ambassadors repeatedly into the 'Arab capitals, and only gradually succeeded in getting positive replies from some of them...
...Bunche wishes to avoid the impression that he is imposing his will...
...It is making slow progress...
...His successful- effbrts to stop the war and establish a truce, pending a final decision of the United Nations, are now well known history...
...Buneho his greiit chnnce...
...She never had any ambition to acquire Palestinian territory, or to dominate Palestine...
...There remains also the riddle of the Gulf of Aqaba, where British interests are involved...
...This armistice enormously enhanced the prestige of Dr...
Vol. 32 • April 1949 • No. 14
