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

Revised Joint Draft Resolution Introduced on November 7, 1950 in the “Ad Hoc” Political Committee by France, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States (Document A/AC.38/L.28/Rev. 1)¹

November 7, 1950

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949,

Having examined the report of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (A/1451); and the report of the Secretary-General concerning United Nations relief for Palestine refugees (A/1452),

1. Notes that contributions sufficient to carry out the programme authorized in paragraph 6 of resolution 302 (IV) have not been made, and urges Governments which have not yet done so to make every effort to make voluntary contributions in response to paragraph 13 of that resolution;

2. Recognizes that direct relief cannot be terminated as provided in paragraph 6 of resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949;

3. Authorizes the Agency to continue to furnish direct relief to refugees in need, and considers that for the period 1 July 1951, to 30 June 1952, the equivalent of approximately $20,000,000 will be required for direct relief to refugees who are not yet reintegrated into the economy of the Near East;

4. Considers that, without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948,^* the reintegration of the refugees into the economic life of the Near East, either by repatriation or resettlement is essential in preparation for the time when international assistance is no longer available, and for the realization of conditions of peace and stability in the area;

5. Instructs the Agency to establish a reintegration fund which shall be utilized for projects requested by any government in the Near East and approved by the Agency for the permanent re-establishment of refugees and their removal from relief;

6. Considers that for the period 1 July 1951, to 30 June 1952, not less than the equivalent of $30 million should be contributed to the Agency for the purposes set forth in paragraph 5 above;

7. Authorizes the Agency as circumstances permit, to transfer funds available for the current relief and works programmes, and for the relief programme provided in paragraph 3, to reintegration projects provided for in paragraph 5;

8. (Method of financing)

9. Authorizes the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, to advance funds deemed to be available for this purpose and not exceeding $5 million from the Working Capital Fund to finance operations pursuant to the present resolution, such sum to be repaid not later than 31 December 1951;

10. Calls upon the Secretary-General and the specialized agencies to utilize to the fullest extent the Agency’s facilities as a point of reference and co-ordination for technical assistance programmes in the countries in which the Agency is operating;

11. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, the International Refugee Organization, the International Labour Organisation, and the Food and Agriculture Organization for the assistance which they have rendered and urges them to continue to furnish all possible assistance to the Agency;

12. Commends the International Committee of the Red Cross, the League of Red Cross Societies, and the American Friends Service Committee for their invaluable service and whole-hearted co-operation in the distribution of relief supplies until those functions were taken over by the Agency;

13. Expresses its thanks to the numerous religious, charitable and humanitarian organizations, the programmes of which have brought much needed supplementary assistance to the Palestine refugees, and urges them to continue and expand, to the extent possible, the work which they have undertaken on behalf of the refugees;

14. Extends appreciation and thanks to the Director and staff of the Agency and the members of the Advisory Commission for their effective and devoted work.²

1. Reprinted from United Nations, Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifth Session, Agenda Item 20, Annexes (hereinafter cited as GA (V), Agenda Item 20, Annexes), p. 34.
2. The original draft resolution (A/AC.38/L.28) did not contain the words “without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948”. [Footnote in the source text. The insertion was submitted by the Pakistani Representative on November 7 as an amendment to the joint draft resolution and was accepted by its four sponsors (GA (V), Ad Hoc Political Committee, pp. 215 and 216).]

2. Mr. John C. Ross of the U.S. Delegation discussed the joint draft resolution in his statement to the Ad Hoc Political Committee on November 7. He noted that the response to the General Assembly’s appeal for voluntary contributions of $54,900,000 under resolution 320 (IV) had not been as generous as hoped. He indicated that paragraph 8 of the draft resolution dealing with the method of financing refugee assistance had been left open and suggested that the Ad Hoc Political Committee should seek the views of the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly for its advice on this crucial question.

   Mohamed Fadhil al-Jamali, the Iraqi Representative, denounced the tendency to disregard the legitimate rights of the Arabs to return to their homes. The only permanent solution to the problem, in his view, was “to compel those who had despoiled the Arabs of their homes to comply with the decisions of the General Assembly and to restore to the Arabs the property which they had looted. The United Nations could not acquiesce in or remain indifferent to such a violation of property rights, or the usurpation of the rights of one group of human beings, by another.” He refused to accept the joint draft resolution because it completely ignored resolution 194 (III) of December 11, 1948.

   Abba Eban indicated that his Delegation had been prepared to support the joint draft resolution but was now reserving its position because of the Pakistani amendment. He asserted that Israel “could not agree to give any special legal validity to paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 as distinct from the entire resolution, which called upon the parties to negotiate a final settlement of all issues outstanding between them. It was legitimate to interpret the reiteration of the 1948 formula as an injunction to the effect that 800,000 or 900,000 Arab refugees could, if they chose, be resettled in Israel. That idea was neither feasible or practical.”

   The statements of Messrs. Ross, al-Jamali, and Eban are printed in GA (V), Ad Hoc Political Committee, pp. 207, 212, and 216, respectively.

   Various changes were made in the draft resolution of November 7, after consultation with Arab, Israeli, and other delegations. Telegrams documenting these changes are in the Department of State files under 320.