Expressions of hope for a basic solution of the Arab refugee problem multiplied here today as the General Assembly’s Special Political Committee continues its three-week long debate of the touchy refugee question.
The surge toward seeking basic solutions received impetus in speeches made during the debate today by Sweden, France, Ireland and Ethiopia. They followed the tone set yesterday by Australia’s delegate in the committee, John D. L. Hood, who asserted that “there is a growing wish in this Assembly that this problem be settled by direct means.”
The logjam in the refugee debate, which has been proceeding very slowly, has finally been broken. Six speakers took the floor today, following seven who spoke yesterday. Charles T.O. King, of Liberia, chairman of the committee, who had been increasingly impatient with the slowness of the debate, announced at the end of today’s session that the committee will meet tomorrow and Saturday. Thirteen speakers are still on the list including the United States, the Soviet Union, Saudi Arabia and Israel.
(In Tel Aviv, Premier David Ben-Gurion told a Canadian parliamentary delegation that Israel was prepared to discuss refugee problems with the Arabs “directly or through any intermediate body.” He expressed the belief that the problem could be solved if the Arabs desired a solution and affirmed Israel’s readiness to discuss the problem face-to-face with the Arabs or through a third party. The nine-man delegation, headed by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Roland Michener, was received by Mr. Ben-Gurion in his Tel Aviv office in the presence of the Canadian Ambassador, Miss Margaret Meagher.)
Statements emphasizing the positive aspects, not only of the refugee problem but of all the Arab-Israeli issues, were made today by Dr. C. Cruise O’Brien, of Ireland; Stig Unger of Sweden; Pierre de Vaucelles, of France; and Ato Goytom Petros, of Ethiopia.
The first of the ardent expressions of hope for direct Arab-Israeli negotiations came yesterday, from Mr. Hood. He spoke as a diplomat familiar with the issues since 1947, when he served as a member of the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine. It was that body’s report that served as the basis for the UN adoption of the Palestine Partition Plan in 1947.
The Australian diplomat asserted that “primary responsibility for changing events in the Middle East lies primarily with the parties at the present time.” Mr. Hood, as most of the neutrals who followed today, rejected the Arab insistence that the Palestine Conciliation Commission be reactivated to act as a collection agency for Arab property abandoned in Israel.
SPEAKERS APPROVE HAMMARSKJOLD’S PLAN FOR REFUGEE INTEGRATION
Today’s speakers–including Mr. Unger, Dr. O’Brien and M. de Vaucelles–gave whole or qualified approval to the plan drawn by Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold for integration of the Arab refugees into the productive economies of the Arab states.
The most outspoken supporter of the plan was Mr. Unger, while Dr. O’Brien called it “bold and far-reaching.” All emphasized the fact that the existence of Israel is a fact to be taken for granted, and that “repatriation” of large numbers of refugees into Israel is not feasible.
M. de Vaucelles warned the committee that any steps taken in regard to the refugees this year “that do not take into account the de facto situation in the region would be a disservice to the refugees.” Dr. O’Brien went further, asserting that his government “understands Israel’s fear of the return in masse of many refugees who would endanger the safety of the state.”
To many delegates here, one of the surprises of the current debate was the speech by Caba Sory, of Guinea. Guinea is generally assumed here to have excellent relations with Israel, which was one of the first countries to recognize this new African republic. However, Mr. Sory’s speech followed strictly along the Arab line, even attacking Jewish immigration into Israel. He suggested that this year’s Assembly “should recommend ending of Jewish immigration into Israel which only aggravates the situation and makes a solution of the refugee problem more difficult.”
It was expected today, that over the week-end, a Western resolution either sponsored wholly by the United States or co-sponsored by the American delegation, will be presented.
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