My UN328. PALESTINE.

1. From varied discussions prior to the opening of the Special Assembly I can find little real support at this stage for the United States Trusteeship Plan or justification for American confidence that the plan would go through. This is largely due to the imprecision of proposals and to doubt whether even at this point the plan has the solid backing of all United States Departments concerned. From further details now received it appears proposals place no time limit on the term of trusteeship or have anything more specific to suggest as regards enforcement than that responsibility should lie jointly with the United States, United Kingdom and France. At the same time Austin is saying privately that United States is still committed to partition.

2. As a result many Delegations have lost confidence in the United States initiative in the whole matter. On present improvisions, a definite line followed through by smaller powers would be welcomed. Apart from other considerations Australian attitude should have, in particular, substantial support on this ground.

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5. In a short talk today on passing on the message contained in your 188[1] Trygve Lie said he found the Australian attitude most encouraging. He thought credit of the United Nations had never been lower than at present and it was essential and Palestine should not be allowed to lower its authority further.