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and that the whole question must accordingly be considered de novo. There was very strong opposition to these assumptions including that of New Zealand and many others who felt that a capitulation to lawless force would be the very negation of the principles on which the United Nations is founded. The combined effect of the insistence of the United States that the Assembly's November decision in favour of partition must now be disregarded- —a policy later to be most dramatically reversed in the Assembly's dying minutes —the unwillingness of the United Kingdom (the Mandatory) and the Security Council to co-operate in implementing that resolution ; the general bewilderment of delegates as the result of rapidly changing and very indefinite policies ; and a widespread reluctance to face the facts, doomed the Assembly to a tragic futility. It was certainly one of the most ineffective meetings I have ever attended, falling far short of the obvious necessities of the case and bitterly disquieting to those who pin their faith, as I do, to this great organization. For all practical purposes the net result of this meeting was that, for the time being at any rate, the Assembly, in a spirit of muddled and timid irresolution, washed its hands of the problem of Palestine and left its solution to the bitter animosities of the two contending parties and probably to the senseless and tragic arbitrament of the sword. But the situation can be retrieved, and one must hope, as I do, that the United Nations will learn by this dismal experience and show a higher sense of reality and responsibility in the future. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) C. A. BERENDSEN. The Right Honourable Peter Fraser, P.C., C.H., Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs, Wellington, New Zealand.