A resolution calling upon the Arab governments to cooperate with the United Nations in carrying out projects to make the Palestine refugees in their countries self-supporting and virtually freezing the U.N. Arab refugee organization on a long-time basis, was introduced here today by the United States, Britain, France and Turkey at the General Assembly’s special political committee.
The resolution is considered an indirect but firm rebuke to the Arab League states, since the Arab governments have been insisting that “repatriation” of the Palestine refugees to Israel must be given priority.
The resolution extends the life of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for a five-year period, ending June 30, 1960; fixes the next fiscal year’s budget for the Agency at $25,100, 000 for relief plus $36,200,000 for rehabilitation, and provides for maintenance of a fund of $200,000,000 additionally for development projects that would give work to some of the approximately 900,000 Arab refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.
In connection with the latter fund, the Arab states have been demanding that portions of the $200,000, 000 be given to their countries for “local” development projects that might aid the refugees indirectly. However, the four-member resolution ignores that request.
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