Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume VI

501.BB Palestine(E)/10–2549: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Legation in Lebanon ¹

confidential

Washington, October 31, 1949.

663. Esmis 27. For Clapp from McGhee. We have studied your informative and detailed message (Legtel 564 Oct 25²) with care and have fol further views on your numbered paras:

1. We agree agent gen with primary responsibility pol matters shld not also be charged by UN with responsibility for operations in econ field. Agent gen shld however in practice coordinate his pol activities with econ activities of UNRPR and NEDI as indicated in Deptel 636³ and 643.⁴

2. We cannot agree NEDI shld handle direct relief and work relief in addition to its long range econ functions. USG is not willing to assume responsibility for admin direct relief and work relief. Device of contractual arrangement with UN is unacceptable because it wld generally be considered we had assumed responsibility on national basis. UK, France and Turkey may certainly be expected react similarly. Congress wld certainly consider US involvement in NEDI as unacceptable if it included responsibility for relief even if trusted American were chairman and responsibility were limited by contract with UN. Furthermore we anticipate appeal for voluntary contributions for relief from UN members wld be prejudiced and fear such contributions wld not be forthcoming to full extent as UN members might assume NEDI had taken over.

UNRPR shld continue function through present operating agencies. We believe operating agencies can be persuaded continue participate in view gravity problem involved. In fact we see no other satisfactory answer to adm problem since any change from present system wld require organization and recruitment large staff for relatively short period. Experts tell us such staff is simply not available because of many international organizations operating in other areas of world.

3. We understand “NEDI” approximates “Social Club” in Arabic and believe it important title be included in interim report and suggest “NEDA” (Near East Development Agency).

4. Arguments shld prove as effective if UNRPR handles and coordinates its activities with NEDI.

5. We agree re US willingness and consider it essential your initial report contain specific long-range development program at least for central Palestine and Jordan as indicated in Deptel 636.

6. Although at outset UNRPR will have all funds, potentiality of NEDI shld gradually become apparent to NE govts as projects are developed.

Dept plans transmit further views re basic policy in next few days. [McGhee.]

Acheson

1. This telegram was repeated to Paris, London, and Ankara and to the American Delegation of the Palestine Conciliation Commission at New York.
2. Not printed; it gave Mr. Clapp’s comments on Department’s telegram 636 (501.BB Palestine(E)/10–2549); see footnote 3 immediately below.
3. Dated October 21, not printed; it advised that the Department agreed substantially with the content of telegram 549, October 18 (p. 1442) and offered various comments (501.BB Palestine (E)/10–1849).
4. Dated October 25, p. 1453.