501.BB Palestine/10–2048: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State
us urgent
Delga 424. For Lovett from Rusk. Following are comments on Department’s cirtel, October 18, 3 a. m.1 Extent and urgent character Arab refugee problem recognized. UN administrative organization has been inadequate primarily because of lack of financial resources and supplies. GADel agrees that UN relief organization could be improved by addition of staff personnel experienced in relief administration in Middle East but has no evidence that UN relief organization inappropriate [Page 1499] if supplied with funds and relief supplies and reorganized as suggested above.
Inadequacies in administrative organization of Arab governments and delays of internal transport also recognized but GADel not convinced that transfer complete responsibility to CICR for raising funds and distributing relief would solve problem because (1) CICR can only appeal to national Red Cross organizations for funds and through them to their respective governments and general publics; (2) GADel considers that contributions by governments are required as private contributions already have and would prove to be inadequate (Delga 423, October 202); (3) governments would make contributions more readily through UN than through CICR because UN can appeal to governments on basis that assistance to refugees will facilitate Palestine settlement. Appeal based solely on humanitarian grounds would fail produce action by legislative and appropriating bodies of governments; (4) transfer responsibility to CICR likely to dry-up assistance from Arab states which have a continuing responsibility under proposed UN program.
GADel approach to problem envisages concentrating control and coordination in SYG UN with discretion in his hands utilize private and government agencies and specialized agencies of UN (paragraph 4, US draft resolution, Delga October 20). This would permit full utilization CICR. [Rusk.]