Hammarskjold Refugee Plan Does Not Go Far Enough. U.S. Holds

Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold’s plan for integrating the Arab refugees into a large-scale economic development program in the Middle East “seems not to go far enough” Francis O. Wilcox. Assistant United States Secretary of State, declared today.”

“Unfortunately.” said Mr. Wilcox, “political factors in the refugee situation have hampered progress towards a fundamental solution of this problem. It is an issue which constitutes a potentially dangerous element of instability in the Near East. The United States, ” continued Mr Wilcox, “believes both Israel and the Arab host states have a serious responsibility to strive for a resolution of this problem in a spirit of mutual accommodation.”

Pointing out that UNRWA’s mandate expires next June, the State Department official declared that this year’s Assembly “must examine the refugee problem in a fundamental way. ” He said “the United States would be interested in all ideas which may be put forward at the Assembly. While we regard favorably certain elements of Mr. Hammarskjold’s plan, we are concerned that it seems not to go far enough in providing the means by which adequate progress toward an ultimate solution could be made.

“The United States considers that all of the states in the area must face this vexatious problem with realism and with compassion of the lot of the refugees themselves. Our keen interest in the future of these refugees is a continuing one. We shall do all that is reasonably possible to assist in making progress toward an equitable solution.”