Representatives of ten Arab states today submitted a letter addressed to Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold, expressing “grave concern” about “continued Jewish immigration to Israel.” In the absence from headquarters of Mr. Hammarskjold, the Arab representatives gave the letter to the Secretary General’s executive assistant, Andrew W. Cordier.
The letter said that “serious consequences” may develop as a result of the Israeli immigration policy and said that the Arab states “emphasize the responsibility of those members of the United Nations who are in a position to control and discourage immigration, as well as those other members whose public and private financial assistance enables Israel to receive large numbers of immigrants.”
The Arab Governments, according to the letter, regard Jewish immigration to Israel “as detrimental to the rights, property and interests of Palestine Arabs, and a direct threat to the peace and security of the Middle East.”
The letter alleged that Israel, through admitting immigrants, is violating armistice agreements “by settling immigrants on lands and in homes against the will of the rightful Arab owners.” The complainants also asserted that Israel’s immigration policy “will, out of necessity, ultimately lead to expansion.”
Signers of the letters were the permanent representatives here of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Republic and Yemen.
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