Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXV, Organization of Foreign Policy; Information Policy; United Nations; Scientific Matters

322. Report of the U.S. Delegation to the Eighth Session of the Executive Committee of the UN High Commissioner’s Program for Refugees¹

Geneva, December 17, 1962.

[Here follow Section 1, Background of the Conference; Section 2, Agenda as Adopted; Section 3, Participation; Section 4, United States Delegation; Section 5, Organization of the Conference, and Section 6, Work of the Committee.]

7. Working of the Conference

A copy of the report (with appendices) of the Eighth Session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Program (Document A/AC.96/185) appears as enclosure 3.²

In general the Eighth Session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was concerned with receiving a current status report on the work of the Office of the High Commissioner and on progress made in the implementation of previously agreed programs and projects. The Executive Committee also was concerned with the approval of specific projects proposed by the High Commissioner within the framework of previously agreed programs.

While the United States Delegation was in a position to support the various findings of the Committee, it also had the opportunity to express certain views of the United States Government.

In commenting on the High Commissioner’s opening statement, the U.S. Delegate noted that the financial situation seemed to have changed appreciably in the last few months and that a detailed and up-to-date statement reflecting the changes would be useful. Later in discussing the program for the completion of major aid projects, the High Commissioner recapitulated the status of financial contributions and explained that in July the 1962 program showed a shortfall of $2 million. At that date, a total shortfall of $6 million in the financing of the 1962 and 1963 programs taken together, was to be expected. Since then, there was reason to believe that the shortfall might be reduced as much as $1,500,000 with the result that the total target for the balance of 1962 and for 1963 stands at roughly $.5 million.

In accordance with its instructions, the U.S. Delegation supported a motion to note the document on the completion of major aid projects and congratulated the High Commissioner on the fact that progress by the end of 1961 and continuing into 1962 made it possible for his office to plan the comprehensive final effort toward the solution of the problem of “old” refugees.

With regard to the Far Eastern operation, the U.S. Delegation noted that its completion by the end of 1963 depends upon the movement of 2,000 European refugees from Mainland China in 1962 and 2,200 in 1963. However, by the end of July, according to the High Commissioner’s report, only 506 had been moved with 172 moved in August, and a further 469 in September. The U.S. Delegation set forth its position that even considering this tremendously increased rate of movement in August and September, there was no assurance that this program could be brought to completion by the end of 1963. Therefore, should the $300,000 for the 1963 program be insufficient for completion of the operation, further activity could be funded under the current program for complimentary assistance.

Further, during the discussion on major aid programs, the U.S. Delegation expressed the concurrence of the U.S. Government in the High Commissioner’s proposed allocation of $150,000 for settlement of approximately 200 mandate refugees in Latin America in 1963. It also took the opportunity to concur in the High Commissioner’s statement in the Document, that requirements of this kind in Latin America which would develop during the coming year would be met to some extent under the program for complementary assistance.

During the debate on current programs for complementary assistance, the U.S. Delegation had the opportunity to congratulate the High Commissioner on the correct manner in which he has handled the problem of the Rwanda refugees, by taking care of their most urgent needs until they are able to support themselves without prejudice to their eventual return to their homes. It expressed the U.S. Government’s opinion that this operation, which has contributed significantly to the stability of the area is a good example of the role the High Commissioner can play in stimulating action and funding under the General Assembly “Good Offices” Resolution. It also noted with interest that plans were being studied together with the Government of Tanganyika and the Government of the Congo to move an additional 25,000 refugees from Burundi into those countries at the request of the Government of Burundi and together with several other members of the Committee, gave support to the High Commissioner’s action in this connection.

In accordance with its instructions the U.S. Delegation gave U.S. Government support to the High Commissioner’s proposal to allocate $50,000 to assist voluntary agencies in helping extremely needy cases (20,000 to 30,000 persons), in Latin America, including refugees from Cuba.

The Agenda item which brought the most extended discussion was that dealing with housing for refugees as it related in particular to the establishment of a housing loan fund for refugees living in France. It had been proposed at the Seventh Session, that sums arising out of the repayments of loans granted under UNREF and UNHCR projects in so far as they exceeded the $500,000 ceiling fixed for the Emergency Fund, be used for this purpose. The U.S. Delegation, with the U.K. Delegation in strong support, maintained the U.S. position in opposition to this plan as expressed at the previous session. In dealing with the question at this present session, the U.S. Delegation commented on the financial aspects of the proposed scheme rather than on the merits of the project itself. The U.S. Delegation stated that if the Executive Committee was convinced that the urgency of the project justified the use of the already limited UNHCR resources, the U.S. Government would prefer that it be financed as part of the so called “regular program” rather than by the allocation of sums derived from loan repayments which would create an undesirable precedent bringing with it requests for similar financing of additional special programs of this nature.

Although the viewpoint of the U.S. and U.K. Delegations was not sustained by the majority of the Committee, the expression of this viewpoint was instrumental in the Committee’s decision to have the matter reviewed again at its next Executive Session. On the basis of a proposal made by the Swedish Representative and a compromise text proposed by the Turkish Representative, the Committee decided by 19 votes to none, with the U.S. and the U.K. Delegations abstaining, to authorize the High Commissioner to:

(a) Sign with the French Government, an agreement of principle concerning the form which the scheme should take, its implementation being dependent on the availability of the necessary funds, and

(b) Use, for the implementation of the said scheme, up to the amount of $100,000 the sum arising out of the repayment of loans made under projects UNREF and UNHCR regular programs in so far as the repayments in question were not required to maintain the Emergency Fund at its ceiling of $500,000, on the understanding that this decision would not prejudice the subsequent policy decisions which the Committee would be called upon to make.

At the conclusion of the discussion on assistance to Algerian refugees, the Committee paid tribute to the United States, along with the French and other Governments, for its support and assistance to these refugees.

8. Future Meetings

The next meeting of the Executive Committee was provisionally scheduled for the last week in April or first week in May, 1963.

9. Conclusions

The work of the Committee was expeditiously handled and with exception of the Committee’s decision to approve financial support of the French housing scheme while reserving the decision until the next session as to whether this would be part of the regular program, no conclusions were reached that were not in accord with the instructions to the United States Representative. The U.S. Delegation was particularly gratified both with the manner in which Lady Tweedsmuir, the Chairman, performed her functions and with the work of the Secretariat. The U.S. Delegation joined with other Delegations in congratulating Lady Tweedsmuir on her excellent Chairmanship.

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 324.8411/12–1762. Unclassified. Margaret Wiesender and Edward W. Lawrence prepared the report; James T. Devine led the U.S. Delegation.
2. Not printed.