U.N. Hopeful on Progress Toward Solution of Arab Refugee Problem

The United Nations has “very high hopes” that genuine progress toward the solution of the touchy Arab refugee problem may be reported to the next General Assembly, in September, by Dr. Joseph E. Johnson, special emissary of the UN Palestine Conciliation Commission, who returned today from the Middle East, it was indicated here.

Dr. Johnson spent five weeks discussing the Arab refugee problem with heads of the governments of Israel, Egypt; Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. He is expected to report to the full Palestine Conciliation Commission next week. It was indicated today that he will continue his talks on the refugee issue with representatives of the Arab and Israel governments here in the next two months. He may also go back to the Middle East in August for further discussions. His report to the General Assembly will not be drafted until September.

In spite of the fact that, last fall, all Arab delegations here attacked Dr. Johnson for his first report, accusing him of being “pro-Israeli,” and charging that, since he is an American, he was being subjected to anti-Arab pressures by the United States Government, Dr. Johnson was received cordially by all Arab heads of state on the visit just concluded, the JTA was told. He also had cordial talks with Israel’s Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and Foreign Minister Golda Meir, finding both of them “delightful to talk to,” the source here stated.

Addressing today the annual conference of representatives of 150 non-governmental organizations accredited to the United Nations, Sherwood Moe, UN staff aide to Dr. Johnson, indicated that he and Dr. Johnson felt that there was less hatred toward Israel among the younger people in the Arab refugee camps than there is among the older generation. “Some do have hatred,” he said, “but most of them are interested primarily in one objective–jobs. Those who receive vocational training–and we do have far from enough money to provide enough of that training–go on into jobs. The farmers are worse off. There is enough land for them to farm; unfortunately, much too much of that land lacks irrigation. Consequently, they are frustrated.”