Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V, Part 2

501.MA Palestine/8–1948

Memorandum by the Department of State to President Truman

secret

Washington, [undated.¹]

Subject: Relief of Arab and Jewish Refugees in the Near East.

As the result of the recent fighting in Palestine, approximately 330,000 Arab inhabitants of that country residing in areas now under occupation by the Provisional Government of Israel or the military forces of Israel precipitately fled from their homes und are now scattered either in the Arab portions of Palestine or in neighboring countries, including Syria, Transjordan and Egypt. There are likewise approximately 7,000 Jewish refugees who require assistance. The plight of the Arabs, however, is much more grave. They are destitute of any belongings, are without adequate shelter, medical supplies, sanitation and food. Their average daily ration, made up exclusively of bread, is only 600 calories. Once the rainy season commences and winter sets in, tragedy on the largest scale will be inevitable unless relief is forthcoming.

Thus far the Provisional Government of Israel has refused to admit the Arab refugees to their former homes, which have in some oases been destroyed by fighting and in others preempted by Jewish immigrants. The Israeli Foreign Minister has officially stated that his government will not permit the return of the refugees except in conjunction with a general peace settlement and under conditions which will not threaten either the economic stability or the internal security of Israel.²

The United Nations Mediator, Count Bernadotte, on August 16, requested the Government of the United States to assist the 330,000 destitute Arab refugees and 7,000 Jewish refugees by donating and diverting to him at Beirut 2500 tons of wheat, 100 tons of canned meat, 50 tons of cheese, 50 tons of butter and 20 tons of DDT. He has further requested that 10 percent of these items be diverted immediately from United States seaborne supplies or in the nearest ports and that the remaining 90 percent be furnished within three months at the latest, except for the full amount of DDT which is required immediately.³

In the absence of public United States funds authorized to meet the request of Count Bernadotte, the Department of State has turned to private American agencies, such as the Near East Foundation, the American Red Cross, and the Church World Service Committee, all of which have already contributed toward the relief of Arab and Jewish refugees in the Near East. In addition, the American-Arabian Oil Company has offered $100,000 to the Mediator for relief purposes. The American Red Cross has offered to furnish the 20 tons of DDT requested, and a telegram has been sent to the Chairman of the Red Cross, who is now in Stockholm, asking authorization to furnish $300,000 of needed supplies for the Mediator’s purposes as outlined in his telegram.

Although Count Bernadotte’s immediate requirements of the United States do not total more than $414,000, without adding the cost of transportation, his present request is but the first of many measures which will have to be taken if the Arab and Jewish refugees remain separated from their homes and without means of livelihood. It is estimated that if they continue as at present the total relief need will run between $2 and $4 million a month to keep them from starvation and epidemic disease.

The Department of State recommends:

1. That the Department continue its efforts to secure immediate donations from American private relief organizations.

2. That the Department be authorized to approach other agencies of this government with a view to assuming some share of the international burden of relief for refugees in the Near East.

3. That, as part of this government’s diplomatic participation in securing a peaceful settlement of the Palestine problem, it urge upon the Provisional Government of Israel and other governments concerned the need for repatriating Arab and Jewish refugees under conditions which will not imperil the internal security of the receiving states.⁴

1. Drafted on August 19.
2. See Mr. Shertok’s letter of August 10 to Secretary-General Lie, SC, 3rd yr., Supplement for August 1948, p. 157.
3. Regarding Count Bernadotte’s request of August 16, see editorial note, p. 1315.

4. Mr. Rusk sent copies of this memorandum to seven officers of the Department on August 19. His transmitting memorandum stated that it “was discussed with the President on the same day by Secretary Marshall. The Secretary has stated that the President gave his oral approval to the three recommendations.…”

   Later in his memorandum, Mr. Rusk noted that “It is hoped that the President’s approval to the Department’s recommendations can be used effectively in securing the utmost cooperation from governmental agencies and from private relief organizations. As the memorandum points out, we are but at the threshold of this acute human problem. A much greater effort will have to be made and means found if tragedy is to be averted in the Near East, with consequent repercussions not only in terms of human suffering but also in terms of the political and security interests of the United States.”