501.MA Palestine/10–149: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom 1
3625. Agreed at UNRPR Ad Hoc Advisory Comite yesterday that SYG shld appeal IRO, WHO, UNICEF to continue assistance Palestine refugees in view recognized need for continuation relief during winter months even tho funds for program beyond Dec. must await GA action after report ESM. Understand appeal will be made in gen terms within next day or two.
SYG did not submit to Comite proposal for early interim action by GA for advance from Working Capt Fund as intimated in Deptel 35482 since financial position UNRPR adequate for needs thru Dec. He assured operating agencies that if GA action on continuation relief has not been taken early in Dec after having benefit of ESM recommendations he would request emergency action at that time.
ASYG Price indicated uncertainty re extent use Working Capital Fund for future program because of anticipated heavy demands for other purposes. IRO assistance therefore believed needed as supplement to Working Capt Fund advance to continue operations thru March before which time receipt gov. contributions unlikely.
Dept suggests IRO adopt gen res along lines 1948 Gen Council res which cld be based on appeal of SYG leaving to DG and SYG to work out specific arrangements. Under 1948 res IRO contributed 100,000 blankets to UNRPR, detailed personnel and loaned $1 million flour on reimbursable basis. Assistance of this kind does not imply any takeover action UNRPR by IRO as indicated paras 1 and 2 of Embtel 3946.3
Suggest Warren4 and Edmonds5 explore unapplied funds and supplies available in inventories to ascertain extent to which IRO might assist without impairing its present program. Mathews UKDel indicated he wld recommend to FonOff support appeal to IRO.
- This telegram was repeated to Geneva for Mr. Warren.↩
- Dated September 29, p. 1413.↩
- Dated October 1, not printed, but see footnote 2, ibid. ↩
- George L. Warren, Adviser on Refugees and Displaced Persons in the Department of State.↩
- Cecil J. Edmonds, Permanent Delegate of the United Kingdom to the General Council of the International Refugee Organization.↩