Telegram on UNRWA in Special Political Committee Debate
(November 29, 1962)
This is a telegram from the Department of State to the Mission to the
United Nations offering guidance on the UNRWA item in the Special Political
Committee debate.
After consideration this matter by President, following
is background for UNRWA item. Dept sending officers today to brief Stevenson,
Rowan and staff more fully. You should defer discussions with PCC members
and others pending negotiations with Israelis here on following basis:
1. We would urge Johnson to submit as non-substantive report as possible
to PCC;
2. We would support PCC report that does not endorse Johnson Plan;
3. We would sponsor GA resolution contained in Deptel 1371
4. We would also maintain our past position against recognition of
Palestine entity, reconstitution of PCC, and Arab Custodian proposal.
Assumption is Johnson's role would be concluded and PCC effort would
be pursued by US in post-GA period.
We seek commitments from Israel that:
1. It will not introduce or support a Direct Negotiations resolution
for next two years;
2. It will be free to maintain its present private rejection of the
Johnson Plan, but would not attack it publicly (including in GA debate);
3. It will resume discussions with the US shortly after GA to consider
how progress can be made on refugee question with an acceptable mixture
of repatriation and resettlement. This would include consideration of
any ideas Israel has, twelve principles developed in the Harman-Talbot
talks, and possible ways to resolve refugee question bilaterally, i.e.,
Jordan;
4. It will commit itself to continue to avoid actions along the border
and to support effective use and improvement of UN instrumentalities
in area.
If foregoing agreement achieved, it ought to be possible to guide debate
in such way that onus for failure make progress on basis Johnson Plan
will fall more or less equitably on both sides. Moreover, since Arabs,
as well as the Israelis, would welcome non-substantive Johnson report
which does not surface Johnson Plan, we ought to be able to use this
and our willingness to extend UNRWA for a year as leverage with them
on the Palestine entity, PCC reconstitution, and Custodian proposals.
In meeting November 29 with Ambassador Harman, U.S. officials discussed
problem along above lines. Harman promised to seek instructions soonest.
Reporting telegram containing further details on this meeting follows.
Rusk
Sources: Foreign
Relations of the United States, 1961-1963: Near East, 1962-1963,
V. XVIII. DC: GPO,
2000. |