Israel urged the United Nations today to make sure that the $100, 000, 000 fund for special development projects in underdeveloped countries, voted by the last General Assembly, be used in a manner “not influenced by political considerations.”
The last General Assembly voted in favor of establishing the special fund, but requested Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold to ask all member governments and the UN specialized agencies to suggest methods for the use of the money.
Mr. Hammarskjold today, made public a number of governmental comments, Israel among them. Assuring the United Nations that it would make every effort to contribute to the special fund, just as in the past it had supported the United Nations expanded program for technical assistance, Israel called the attention of the Secretary General to the fact that “certain economic development projects are also politically significant.”
Israel then suggested that the executive body of the new fund must work in such a way as to cross political boundaries or political differences. While the wording of Israel’s comment was strictly formal, it was believed to refer to Israel’s desire for use of money from the special fund for Middle East regional projects like the Jordan River Valley plan.
After Israel’s comment about the special fund had been circulated here, Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold stated that “the monies from that fund can usefully be employed also on a regional basis rather than only on a national basis like the funds allocated for technical assistance.”
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