U.N. Committee Defeats Arab Efforts to Prevent Settlement of Jewish Dp’s in Palestine

Arab efforts to prohibit the proposed International Refugee Organization from resettling Jews in Palestine were defeated today by the U.N. Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee.

The first proposal, introduced by Egypt, would have emended the IRO constitution to make the essential task of the organization the early repatriation of refugees in every way possible, with their resettlement being contemplated “only as a last resort and solely in cases where there would be real difficulty in the way of repatriation.” The vote was 17 to 14 with the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union lined up against the proposal.

A second Egyptian amendment recommended that resettlement could “in no case be imposed on a sovereign nation or run counter to the freely expressed wishes and aspirations of the majority of the indigenous population of a trust or non-self-governing regions or territories.” There were 13 votes in favor, the U.S. and Britain again voting against it, and the Soviet Union abstaining.

During the debate the only one to mention Palestine was the Yugoslav delegate, Leo Mattes, although it was obvious that all the delegates were aware of the motives behind the Egyptian proposals. During the debate, Mattes introduced another amendment that would prevent resettlement of refugees in any country whose neighbors made any formal objections. He explained the amendment was aimed against resettlement of fascist Slav elements now in DP camps. When considerable opposition developed, he withdrew the amendment but announced he would reintroduce it later.

BRAZILIAN DELEGATE LAUDS JEWISH IMMIGRANTS; OPPOSES SELECTIVE IMMIGRATION

Earlier, the Committee defeated a Russian attempt to limit the life of the IRO to less than one year and an Australian proposal to handle the refugee problem by setting up a commission under the Economic and Social Council rather than creating a specialized agency such as the IRO.

During the discussion, Gilbert Amado of Brazil spoke out against national policies of admitting immigrants on a selective basis. He said that immigrants on arrival in Brazil are not asked if they are Jews and he mentioned that Jewish immigrants played an important part in Brazilian life.

The Committee is preparing to act on Yugoslavian amendments that would specifically exclude Jews from any general repatriation rule. One proposal would obligate the IRO to facilitate resettlement of European Jews whose families or themselves, suffered from racial persecution during the war. Another proposal states that Jews who leave former German-occupied countries before the IRO is set up will be aided by the IRO.