105. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, November 24, 1959, 11:30 a.m.1
SUBJECT
- UNGA Discussions Regarding Renewal of the UNRWA Mandate (one of two)
PARTICIPANTS
- The Secretary
- IO—Francis O. Wilcox
- NE—Armin H. Meyer
- NE—William D. Brewer
- H.E. Abdel Khalek Hassouna, Secretary General of the Arab League
- H.E. Dr. Hussein Kamel Salim, Minister, UAR Embassy and Director of the Arab League Information Center in Washington
Ambassador Hassouna expressed gratification at the good relations existing between the United States and the Arab World and hoped that the present favorable trend would continue. Matters were moving satisfactorily at the UNGA, and Ambassador Hassouna hoped that the current refugee debate would accomplish the main objective of renewing the UNRWA mandate for a “reasonable time.” UNRWA’s Director would thus be able to plan intelligently for the future and the refugees themselves would have a measure of continued security.
The Secretary replied that he assumed Ambassador Hassouna was well aware of the very real difficulties which confronted the United States in connection with the renewal of UNRWA. Both through legislation and oral comments, the Congress had clearly indicated [Page 232] that the United States could not be expected to continue to pay 70% of the cost of UNRWA indefinitely. We therefore hoped that the current debate would throw light on how progress might be made. It would be difficult to obtain funds from Congress to assist the refugees unless there were tangible and concrete indications regarding the possibility of an eventual solution to this problem.
Ambassador Hassouna noted that the Arabs recognized the US problem but observed that the entire question had been “frozen” since 1949 by reason of the inactivity of the Palestine Conciliation Commission. Certainly the Arab States and the refugees themselves did not wish to have relief payments continued indefinitely. It was hoped that something better could be proposed, and, with the area now relatively quiet, action on this overall problem should be of serious general concern. Meanwhile, both Secretary General Hammarskjold, and UNRWA Director Davis had made unqualified suggestions that UNRWA be renewed. Their views might carry weight with the US Congress. On November 23, Pakistan and Indonesia had tabled a resolution proposing that UNRWA be extended for five years.2 This period might be sufficient to give hope to the refugees, while also recognizing the legitimate concern of the major contributors. If such a resolution were accepted, perhaps progress toward a solution of this program could be made during the five-year period, provided that the Government of Israel displayed a more constructive attitude than heretofore regarding previous UN resolutions. Ambassador Hassouna emphasized that he had long believed that the PCC might play a useful role if it could be activated.
Mr. Meyer inquired whether specific reference had been made to the reactivation of the PCC in the Pakistani draft. Ambassador Hassouna replied negatively, noting that the draft merely requested UNRWA to cooperate with the PCC in carrying out the resolution. However, the role of the PCC could be examined more fully, and perhaps its composition might be altered. However, Ambassador Hassouna recalled a remark that the late Secretary Dulles had made regarding the difficulty of modifying commissions already in being. Ambassador Hassouna felt that this subject might be a suitable one for discussion.
Mr. Wilcox remarked that what the Secretary had in mind was the United States need for tangible evidence of progress on this question. Perhaps this could be accomplished by providing in the resolution for the re-examination of the refugee rolls or for improvement in UNRWA’s educational program. Ambassador Hassouna opined that the problem of the refugee rolls involved Jordan primarily. He thought [Page 233] the Jordanian authorities would be found very willing to discuss this question with UNRWA and reach a satisfactory solution. He, himself, had found Ambassador Rifai and Foreign Minister Nasir favorably disposed. Jordanian assurances on this point might also be helpful in connection with the US problem vis-à-vis Congress.
Ambassador Hassouna continued that he did not believe there were important differences among any of the interested states with respect to UNRWA’s self-liquidating projects. He noted, however, that any attempt at the UNGA to go beyond the work of UNRWA itself might create problems. The Secretary observed that the UN was indeed a very large forum in which to discuss sensitive matters. Ambassador Hassouna asserted that, despite what he described as a “very mild” opening speech by Saudi delegate Shuqairi, the Israeli delegate had made inordinate use of his right to reply. Ambassador Hassouna wondered whether there would be anything left for the delegate’s formal statement.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 320.511/11–2459. Confidential. Drafted by Brewer on November 25 and approved by S on December 1. A briefing paper for the conversation is ibid., NEA Files: Lot 79 D 215, Palestine Refugees.↩
- For text of the resolution, transmitted in Delga 495 from New York, November 20 (ibid., Central Files, 320.511/11–2059), see U.N. Doc. A/SPC/L.38.↩