P F Tinmore,
et al,
Yes, it is important. It is just as important to read what it says, and even more important not to read into it. The prinicple purpose of the memo was to announce the Successor Government (ie the UN Palestine Commission).
"After the 15th May, 1948, Palestine will continue to be a legal entity..."
Legal entity? What is that supposed to mean? However, it does say that Palestine will continue to exist after the 15th May, 1948. This contrasts the propaganda that Palestine ceased to exist.
(COMMENT)
I don't think I ever said that "Palestine" ceased to exist. I think we disagreed on what "Palestine" means.
"it will still not be a sovereign state because it will not be immediately self-governing."
"immediately self-governing" tells us that it was planned that Palestine become a sovereign state. That is what the LoN Covenant called for the mandates to accomplish. Britain failed to follow its mandate.
(COMMENT)
This is what I mean by saying don't read something into it that was not implicitly stated. The UK did not fail its mission, the Arab Palestinians failed themselves, the Arab League failed the Arab Palestinians. They opted for armed struggle, not peace.
If you read a little further, you will note that the MEMO said:
"Where the sovereignty of Palestine lies at the present time is a disputed and perhaps academic legal question about which writers have expressed a number of different conclusions. Where the sovereignty of Palestine will lie after the 15th May, 1948, is perhaps also a question on which different views will be held, but so far as His Majesty's Government are aware, it is a question which it is unnecessary to answer in connection with any practical issues."
This is diplomaticese for "We don't know." But it does not say that it is to become a "state." In fact the UK already knew that the implementation of the Partition Plan was set, because they played an active part in the implementation process from the very beginning. The representative designated by the Government of the United Kingdom to the UNPC Implementation process was Sir Alexander Cadogan, present from the first meeting.
"its its administration will, however, have changed."
Administration, not ownership or sovereignty.
(COMMENT)
The MEMO clearly states that the UNPC is the Successor Government.
There was no mention of Israel, or a Jewish state, or partition, or ceding any land, or change in any borders. Palestine in its entirety was to be placed in trust to the UN.
(COMMENT)
And the UN decided to take action; through the UNPC in its activities by the recommendations of the General Assembly and by such instructions as the Security Council may consider necessary to issue.
Your conclusions do not coincide with the document that you posted.
(COMMENT)
My conclusion is, that other than the "legal entity" called "Palestine" as defined in the Palestine Order in Council,
there was no Palestinian governing body with any control over any aspect of that "entity." It was delegated to the UNPC by the UNGA and UNSC.
Your insistence that there was something more is pure wishful thinking.
Most Respectfully,
R