The interview was recorded at the New York ,on June 20, 1990. The Interviewer was Jean Krasno. William Mashler was a junior political officer in the United Nations Department of Trusteeship and Information on Non-Self-Governing Territories in 1947, eventually becoming Assistant to Director Ralph Bunche in 1949. His relationship with Mr. Bunche, coupled with the creation of the State of Israel and the question of Palestine led to his involvement in the actions of the United Nations in the Middle East at that time. In 1971 Mr. Mashler continued his work with the United Nations, now working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) where he served as Director of the Division for Global and Interregional Projects. Conducted on 16 May 1991, Mr. Mashler discussed his experiences relating to the role of the United Nations in the creation of the State of Israel, and shared his personal memories of his relationship with Ralphe Bunche.