Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V

320.2AA/5–1650

The Legation in Lebanon to the Secretary of State ¹

restricted
No. 215

Beirut, May 16, 1950.

Subject: Weekly Round-Up of UNRWA Activities No. 1

1. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency was formed in accordance with the General Assembly Resolution of December 8, 1949, and is composed of a Director, Mr. Howard Kennedy, his staff and an Advisory Commission with the following members:

The Honorable John B. Blandford, Jr., USA (First Chairman)

The Honorable Jacques Tarbe de Saint Hardouin, France

General Refet Bele, Turkey

Sir Henry Knight, UK

The chairmanship of the Commission rotates and will be held by each member for a period of three months.

2. The Agency established its headquarters in the UNESCO Building in Beirut and held its first meeting on April 25, 1950.² On May 1 it formally assumed responsibility for the distribution of relief supplies from the various voluntary agencies formerly carrying on this function.

3. The Agency has been received by the Governments of Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Syria. Its schedule tentatively calls for a second visit of the Director and Commission to Amman, a trip to Saudi Arabia during the week of May 21, and for conversations with the Government of Iraq on or around May 29. The purpose of these visits is to establish contact with these Governments and to consult with them regarding the initiation of work projects which may be undertaken in the area. The Jordan Government has been most cooperative, and King Abdullah suggested that PRA concentrate its activities in Jordan. The combination of a large concentration of refugees in Jordan and Arab Palestine and a cooperative governmental atmosphere is tempting, and present thinking of the Agency is to regard Jordan as a beachhead in which it is most feasible to begin work projects. The limiting factors to the Agency’s work here will be the absorptive capacity and economic potential of the area. This requires further study. It is hoped that the PRA activity in Jordan will stimulate cooperation in the other Arab States.

4. A press conference was held by the Director and Chairman of the Commission on May 11. A brief outline of the objectives of the Agency was presented and questions of newsmen answered. Attached is a copy of the statement issued.³

5. One of the first problems with which the Agency has had to cope is a strike of refugees in camps at Sidon and in the Damascus area. An undetermined number of refugees in these sectors are refusing food rations and medical treatment and have closed their schools. In general, the strike is alleged to be a protest against implementation of works projects which are regarded as a step away from repatriation.⁴ There are also allegations of waste and inefficiency. We hope to reassure the refugees as to both their political fears and their complaints as to operations.

1. Drafted by Ambassador Blandford and Rodger P. Davies, Second Secretary of Legation in Syria.
2. The reference is to the first formal meeting at Beirut. A UNRWA press release of May 11, transmitted in despatch 215, stated that the Agency held its first formal meeting in Geneva from April 17–19, where it conferred with various specialized and voluntary agencies including the International Refugee Organization, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, and the International Red Cross Committee, and with the Palestine Conciliation Commission.
3. Not printed.
4. Legation Beirut reported, on May 24, that the strike had been called off by the refugee committees, that most refugees in Lebanon had complied, and that there were still some hold-outs in Syria (despatch 228, 320.2AA/5–2450).