Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, The Near East and Africa, Volume V

320.2 AA/11–851: Despatch

The Minister in Lebanon (Minor) to the Department of State ¹

confidential
No. 243

Beirut, November 8, 1951.

Ref: Beirut’s telegram No. 229 of September 7, 1951, to the Department (Rapun 214)²

Subject: Arab and Jewish Refugees in Israel

As reported in the telegram under reference, on September 5, 1951, Mr. John B. Blandford, Jr., Director of UNRWA (PRA), discussed with the Israeli Foreign Minister the question of the 20,000 Arabs and 3,000 Jews in Israel still drawing PEA rations. Mr. Blandford urged that Israel should take on full responsibility for these people who were, after all, bona fide residents of the country.

There is enclosed a copy of a letter sent to Mr. Blandford dated October 3, 1951, by Dr. G. Meron, Chairman of the Israel Delegation to PRA.³ Dr. Meron makes the point that his Government had never denied responsibility for its residents. He then states that Israel will take no final decision in this matter pending the outcome of the Arab-Israeli discussions at the present Paris conference of the Palestine Conciliation Commission. There is also enclosed a copy of Mr. Blandford’s reply, dated November 2, 1951.⁴

Comment: In June 1950, the Israeli Government admitted full responsibility for the refugees within Israel at a meeting with the Director and Advisory Commission of PRA. The Israelis stated that they would reintegrate these people with or without international aid. They did argue, however, that assistance from PRA could greatly speed up the process.

It would appear that Israel, now that she is to receive $50 million from the United States for the express purpose of settling refugees, is prepared to withdraw its request for PRA assistance. However, Israel will be very careful to insist, for the record that her shouldering full responsibility was originally her idea.

As regards Israel’s postponement of the final decision in this matter until the outcome of the PCC conference, Mr. Blandford is fond of citing this as another instance where PCC’s action has delayed PRA’s program.

Harold B. Minor

1. Drafted by Mr. Bergus; sent also to the Arab capitals, Tel Aviv, London, and Paris.
2. Ante, p. 852.
3. Not printed.

4. Not printed. Mr. Blandford replied in part as follows:

   “I must admit this decision is a bit disappointing for two reasons. First, I leave for Paris Wednesday, the seventh, for a meeting with my Advisory Commission to complete our joint report for the UN Assembly. I had hoped to omit from the report references to UN support of resident refugees in Israel, especially in the light of recent large appropriations from other sources for refugee settlement in Israel. Second, during the recent weeks I have made steady progress with other Governments of the area toward constructive measures for improving refugee living conditions upon the sound premise that such a program should proceed without reference to the discussions or conclusions of the Paris meeting of the Conciliation Commission and without delay.” (320.2 AA/11–851)