320.2 AA/5–2852: Telegram
No. 441
The Minister in Lebanon (Minor) to the Department of State1
1323. Blandford saw Ben-Gurion, Eytan, Comay Jerusalem 26th. Israelis apparently stated they now accept principle of taking full responsibility refugees. When pressed by Blandford for definite date they tentatively suggested Sept 1. Blandford pushed for July 1. Israelis promised consult the several Ministries concerned with problem and inform agency their position next ten days.
2. Ben-Gurion displayed surprising lack info refugee problem expressing such mistaken beliefs as (a) all refugees in first class camps and living well; (b) problem solving itself as refugees being absorbed into economies of countries of refuge. Blandford pointed out we have 100,000 more refugees than when we started, only one-third living in camps, and at least half million must be moved to other countries before resettlement.
- Identified also as telegram Rapun 289. Repeated to Tel Aviv.↩