320.2 AA/4–1951
The Lebanese Foreign Office to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees1
The Lebanese Government has examined the refugee problem in the light of the two resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 2 and 14, 1950. It is pleased to note that both [Page 640] these resolutions give evidence of a sincere wish to help the refugees, to confirm their right to return to their homes and for the right to compensation for those who decide not to return. It hopes that the Office to be created by the Conciliation Commission will put into effect Paragraph 11 of the General Assembly Resolution of December 11, 1948.
Telegram 716 to Beirut (Unrap 137), April 21, indicates in part that similar notes had been received by the Embassy in Egypt and the Legation in Syria from their host governments by that date. (844.411/4–2051)
However, the Lebanese Government cannot avoid expressing its reprobation of the unjust measures taken with regard to the refugees, the effect of which is to impede their repatriation. It is, in particular, against those of the measures which have made it possible for their goods and assets to be disposed of without their permission, whereas thousands of them are at present living under the most difficult conditions, have already passed three winters away from their homes and, in spite of their tragic situation, the Jewish authorities continue to encourage Jews from all over the world to emigrate to Palestine without at all taking into consideration the disastrous effects which may result from this in at one and the same time the political, social and economic fields, and from which the Middle East will not be able to escape.
Since the day when these dramatic happenings took place, the refugee problem has been incessantly brought up before the General Assembly of the United Nations. The General Assembly has continuously made appeals that the rights of the refugees should be respected. The Arab Governments have always had the hope that the United Nations would implement these resolutions and that the great democratic states would make use of the means available to them to facilitate the repatriation of the refugees and their re-installation in Palestine. But this hope has not been realised, the difficulties have continued to increase and the sufferings of the refugees have redoubled.
The Lebanese Government, taking into consideration the tension prevalent in the world today, has examined the attitude which the Arab Government should adopt at the present stage of international affairs. Starting with the fact that the refugee problem is a political, social and human problem of the greatest gravity, and that it calls for an urgent solution motivated by principles of law and justice, and whereas, on the other hand, the international situation requires that this problem should be examined with care and steadfastness, and in view of the fact that the Arab countries cannot devote themselves wholeheartedly to their share of the responsibilities devolving on them in the international scene so long as they have to face up to this serious problem, the Lebanese Government is persuaded of the fact that there should be a united effort to find an immediate solution to the refugee problem in conformity with the provisions of both Paragraph 11 of the General Assembly Resolution of December 11, 1948, and those of the resolutions of December 2 and 14, 1950.
[Page 641]The Lebanese Government considers that the funds destined for the Refugee Relief Programme and the implementation of the works in which the refugees are to take part do not respond to all the existing needs, nor are they sufficient for improving their living conditions, or for assuring the food, clothing and housing which they so greatly need.
In particular, the Lebanese Government considers that the sum of $30,000,000 fixed by the resolution of the General Assembly of December 2, 1950, for the Reintegration Fund is insufficient to remove the numerous difficulties facing the refugees. Resettlement in or out of Palestine can only be carried out if greater funds are dedicated to this end, to assure to approximately 900,000 refugees the peace and security of which they are at present deprived.
The General Assembly recorded, with good reason, in Paragraph 4 of the resolution of December 2, 1950, that resettlement of the refugees in or out of Palestine without prejudging their right to repatriation and compensation would in a large measure contribute to the peace and stability of the Near East. But this resettlement can only succeed if large funds are voted for the realisation of the aims which the United Nations have set themselves.
In this connection, it would be interesting to recall that Paragraph 2 of Article 11 of the General Assembly resolution of December 11. 1948, requested the Conciliation Commission to take the necessary steps with a view to resettling the refugees and facilitating their economic and social rehabilitation. Unfortunately, neither the Conciliation Commission nor the United Nations Relief and Works Agency was able to attain this goal due to the insufficiency of the funds given them.
The refugees certainly expect the United Nations to protect their rights, to help them, to provide relief for them and ensure their return to a normal way of life.
Count Bernadotte, UN Mediator, stressed, in addition to this, in his report submitted to the General Assembly on December 18, 1948, the responsibilities incumbent on the United Nations with regard to the refugees. Far more, the refugees consider that the greater part of these responsibilities is incumbent on the two great democracies, for reasons which there is no occasion to mention here.
The Lebanese Government makes a point of recording in this respect that at no time have the Arab Governments tried to shirk their responsibilities, but that they have made use of all the means at their disposal to help the refugees. These Governments cannot, however, settle the refugee problem as a whole with their means alone. It is an undeniable fact that it is up to the international community to assume this task, in conformity with the aims of the Charter of the United Nations.
[Page 642]The Arab Governments have collaborated with UNRWA and have accepted the implementation of certain works projects in their countries. But the funds available to the Agency have limited its field of activity, and have made it possible for only a very small number of refugees to be given employment.
At the meeting of the Political Committee of the Arab League on February 3, 1951, the Arab Governments gave all their attention to the situation in which the refugees now find themselves and the dangers which may result, particularly in the present state of international tension. They agreed that they should each present this joint note to the Governments concerned, inviting them to spare no effort to answer the appeals of the refugees and to see that their rights are respected in conformity with the above-mentioned General Assembly resolutions. At the same time they agreed that they should confirm that the refugees, being assured of the approval and support of the Arab Governments in this connection, cannot accept any project for resettlement in or out of Palestine before a general programme has been adopted through which it will be possible to assure, in the quickest possible time, the full and entire realisation of such projects, protecting at the same time all their rights as recognized by the General Assembly resolutions.
The Lebanese Government hopes that the other member states of the United Nations will hasten to find a solution to the refugee problem in the above-mentioned direction, so that the Arab States, having been relieved of their preoccupation with the refugee problem and having been assured that it has been settled on a basis of law and justice, may devote themselves to the study of the other problems they have to face, and collaborate effectively to the settlement of general international questions.2
- Translation of this note was transmitted to the Department as enclosure to despatch 549, April 19.↩
- In circular telegram 646 of April 24, routed to Beirut, Cairo, and Damascus, drafted by Mr. Sands and cleared by NE and UNP, the Department stated in part: “Acknowledgment of] Aide-Mémoire shld note briefly US Govt considers this constructive forward step settlement refugee problem and US other interested govts currently examining ways and means financing reintegration.” (320.2AA/4–251)↩