Assembly 179.

Minister yesterday introduced amendment to Sub-Committee One plan
concerning holy places, religious buildings and sites.

2. Plan previously stated that no taxation shall be levied in
respect of any holy place, religious building or site which was
exempt from taxation on the date of creation of state.

3. Amendment which was added to above and was carried unanimously
states 'No change in the incidence of such taxation shall be made
which would either discriminate between the owners or occupiers of
holy places, religious buildings or sites or would place such
owners or occupiers in a position less favourable in relation to
the general incidence of taxation than existed at the time of the
adoption of the Assembly's recommendations'.

4. The amendment thus guarantees freedom from discriminatory
taxation for Christian churches in both States and also in the
City of Jerusalem.

5. Cardinal Spellman and other churchmen had requested Australia
to take the initiative because the Minister was Chairman.

You will notice that whereas majority plan secures international
control of Holy City of Jerusalem including Bethlehem-the minority
Arab plan (defeated 29 to 12) largely left Christian as well as
Jewish religious interests under sole control of Arabian majority.