Office of the Historian

501.MA Palestine/6–2749: Circular telegram

The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic and Consular Offices 1

secret
Washington, June 27, 1949—9 a. m.

In discussing Arab refugee problem with Govt to which accredited, you shld take fol genl line:

You shld bring to Govt’s attention substance Depcirtel May 27, 1 a. m.2 (Unpal 114) which USDel PCC has discussed informally with Israeli and Arab delegations Lausanne. Conditions under which such assistance wld be forthcoming shld be carefully emphasized.

You shld then state that USG deeply disappointed re failure Israelis and Arabs to adopt constructive approach to refugees. You shld emphasize that onus of responsibility resolving refugee question lies squarely on both Israelis and Arabs, and that USG is under no mandate from UN to lend its material resources to solve problem of Israeli-Arab making. USG notes with disappointment that neither Israelis nor Arabs have shown any inclination meet conditions on which US offer assistance was based. In event conditions met at future date, USG wld be prepared at that time consider question of assistance to Israel and Arab states. However, you shld emphasize implications such delay, since US support of refugee settlement program conditional upon UN action and sponsorship. Such program wld necessitate time-consuming and laborious preparation by PCC prior to presentation to GA this autumn. Under present circumstances, PCC not in position initiate preparation such program in absence [Page 1186] necessary political cooperation. Therefore any additional delay will mean increasing difficulty if not impossibility obtaining UN action this year.

You shld stress problem of impending termination UNRPR program, and inquire what plans Arab states contemplate for continuation relief to refugees under their custodianship.

You may inform Govt that Israeli auths have received similar representations.3

Acheson
  1. At Amman, Baghdad, Cairo, Jidda, Damascus, and Beirut.↩
  2. Not printed; it repeated to Arab capitals the text of telegram 674, identified also as Unpal 114, May 23, to Bern, p. 1047.↩
  3. Chargé Stabler discussed the content of this circular telegram with King Abdullah on the morning of June 29. He pointed out that while Jordan had willingly accepted the principle of resettlement “in private conversations with US and other representatives, its attitude appeared quite different when acting in conjunction with other Arab States. Emphasized US Government is continuing exert pressure on Israel to give early indication how many refugees it will repatriate but suggested that immediate action by Arab States regarding resettlement those refugees unwilling or unable return would in no way diminish pressure on Israel or chances for repatriation. Also indicated that if some positive action not taken soon Arab States would find themselves with no outside relief assistance whatsoever and expressed belief Arab States totally unable handle problem on their own.

    “King said he agreed with this analysis and suggested that steps be taken now by US and other interested countries in making survey of resettlement possibilities in Jordan and Arab Palestine with view to drawing up plans for such resettlement. He indicated he entirely prepared move forward on this basis at once if financial assistance for carrying out projects assured and felt that ‘if you begin with me and others see what is being done, they will soon follow’.” (telegram 267, June 29, 7 p. m., from Amman, 501.BB Palestine/6–2949)

    ↩