Your UN.420.

1. Terms of summons to Special Session indicate clearly that its
purpose is 'constituting and instructing a special committee to
prepare for consideration of the question of Palestine at the
second regular Session'.

2. We are, as a matter of principle, in favour of fullest
discussion at a General Assembly. It is obvious however that
September meeting will be critical one. Therefore this Session
should set up a committee or committees and give it or them
broadest charter to deal with all matters relevant to the
Palestine problem.

3. Decision of Assembly on these matters should await the receipt
of the Committee's report at the General Session. There is no
occasion, however, for debates at the Special Session to travel
beyond preparatory investigations, therefore there is no need to
instruct you, as yet, on the substance of proposals which might be
put forward by Arab or other States.

4. On the question of the composition of the Commission,
representatives of Jewish organisations would better be heard, not
at the Special Session, but before Committee of Enquiry which
should be free to take evidence from any source wishing to give
it.

5. The Committee, however constituted, should have no limitations
placed on its scope and should have no directions on procedure. If
there is not unanimity, one or more minority reports should be
referred to the General Assembly as well as the majority report.

6. On Composition, we would think it better to have Committee of
11 or 15.

The main purpose of Australian participation in a Special Session
should be to secure a place on the Investigation Committee and, if
we would be assured of election to a more limited committee, we
would favour it.