Dr. Joseph E. Johnson, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, will start a second round of consultations this week on the Arab refugee problem, in meetings with representatives of the Arab states and of Israel at the United Nations and in Washington, it was learned here today. Dr. Johnson was named by the Palestine Conciliation Commission yesterday to serve a second term as the PCC’s special representative to the Middle East.
The Carnegie head was first appointed as the PCC’s special envoy to the Middle East last August. After visiting all of the Arab capitals as well as Jerusalem, he continued his talks here about the Arab refugee problem with all Foreign Ministers of the governments concerned, Later, when he had filed a report to the PCC, which in turn submitted the report to the General Assembly, Arab diplomats unanimously condemned him as “partisan” and “pro-Israeli.”
Now, however, the Arab states and Israel have agreed to accept Dr. Johnson once again as the PCC’s envoy who is to try to work out some first steps toward a solution of the thorny Arab refugee problem. After conferring with Arab and Israeli representatives here and in Washington, Dr. Johnson is expected to go to the Middle East again in May to continue his talks there. He will be accompanied by Sherwood Moe, a ranking member of the UN Secretariat and an expert on refugee affairs, who will act as liaison officer and special representative of Acting Secretary-General U Thant.
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