Memorandum of Conclusions From Johnson's Second Mission
(June 7, 1962)
This memorandum relays Johnson's final conclusion
concerning his second mission, and the eventual success of his efforts
to achieve a more permanent solution to the refugee
problem taking into consideration both parties priorities and flexibility.
SUBJECT
PCC-Johnson Arab Refugee Initiative
PARTICIPANTS
Dr. Joseph Johnson--Special Representative, Palestine Conciliation Commission
Mr. Sherrington Moe--Senior Advisor to the Special Representative
NEA--Assistant Secretary Talbot
IO--Assistant Secretary Cleveland
NE--Robert C. Strong
UNP--Joseph J. Sisco
NEA--James M. Ludlow
UNP--Stephen E. Palmer, Jr.
NE--William R. Crawford, Jr.
In response to questions from Department officers,
Dr. Johnson commented as follows on his just completed (April-May) "second
round" trip to the Arab host countries and Israel:
1. General Climate: Both Arabs and Israelis were uniformly
friendly to Johnson personally, Mrs. Meir possibly excepted. On the
Arab side, despite the fairly "stale" resolution adopted by
the Arab League at the Riyadh meeting, there is less rigidity of thought,
"more viscosity," than was evident in September 1961. There
is a sense of movement--even if the Arabs are dissatisfied with its
direction--and a fumbling for some new position, perhaps a Palestine
"entity," a "liberation" force, or a simple long-range
building of strength. Johnson counseled the Arabs very strongly on the
futility of any such moves. The Arabs were invariably told that as a
UN official Johnson had to recognize that Israel existed. Not once was
this challenged. There is a change in attitudes towards Israel's permanence,
or at least semi-permanence. There is a concern with practical things
such as where compensation will come from.
Israel not only does not want any refugees back but
would prefer no Arabs in Israel. Its drive is toward "uncompromising
exclusivity." The Arabs are "second class" citizens,
a fact recognized in Arab arguments that there can be no refugee return
to "Israel" as such. Manifestly, also, Israel has a distaste
for anything connected with the United Nations.
2. Program: The first task is for the Special Representative
to define specific proposals which come as close as possible to what
each side might reasonably accept in the light of its security and other
national interests as communicated to Johnson during the "second
round." The concept of a pilot project within a given maximum number
of refugees (20,000) was rejected by both sides and must be abandoned.
Therefore, procedures must be evolved for finding out what the refugees
want, for counseling them in confidence as to the alternatives realistically
open to them, etc., in such a way that Israel will not see this process
as a hazard to its existence. The proposal must be simple, must anticipate
arguments from all sides, and must be predicated on acquiescence rather
than cooperation of governments. It must be accompanied by statements
that the UN cannot assure implementation, that preferences can be changed,
and that implementation will in any case take time. Equally, compensation
must be carefully studied. It must be paid for more than just loss of
property. From some source, it must also be provided to those who return
to Israel and cannot take up residence in their old homes. In all, an
estimated $1.4 billion ($1500 per refugee) will be required for compensation.
When the Special Representative's proposals have been
elaborated, it will be necessary for them to be examined and endorsed
by the highest levels of the US Government.
After quiet approval by the US, possibly some time
in September or October, the Senior Advisor to the Special Representative
would personally deliver the text of the proposal to the Arab host governments
and Israel. The Senior Advisor would entertain suggestions but the Special
Representative himself would not further negotiate his own proposal.
At the same time a process of quiet consultation with other key governments
(the U.K., France, Netherlands, India, Ghana, etc.) would be initiated.
At the UNGA, the final text of the proposal would be
floated, if possible about mid-November. If it is a reasonable proposal
that reasonable nations weary of the problem can adhere to, and the
parties reject it, the UN can properly say it has tried, failed, and
can henceforth wash its hands of responsibility.
3. Sanctions; Other Moves: Nasser seems primarily concerned
with domestic developments. He will have no interest in progress on
the refugees in Gaza, where the problem seems unsolvable, but must be
persuaded at least to remain neutral and not make trouble elsewhere.
Sanctions with the Arabs include the threat that the
UN will wash its hands of responsibility for Paragraph 11 of Resolution
194, the reduction of UNRWA (heretofore admittedly not a credible deterrent),
the Special Representative's final report, and the threatened passage
of Israel's direct negotiations resolution.
Sanctions with Israel lie primarily in the hands of
the U.S. But there is additionally the threat of Israel's isolation
from reasonable nations in the UN if it has rejected a fair proposal
that the Arabs have accepted. United States supporters of Israel can
perhaps be helpful. There are also some very divided councils in Israel.
Israel will not like the recording of refugee preferences, even if these
are kept confidential, but there is the possibility of a U.S.-Israel
understanding as to the maximum repatriation the U.S. will support,
perhaps also a U.S.-UAR understanding, outside the cognizance of the
Special Representative. If a procedure for recording refugee preferences
does go forward, it should do so under an individual, perhaps on the
pattern of the UNHCR. The PCC should not try to be the administrator
of the recording procedure.
4. Reconstitution of the PCC: The Arabs are less unhappy
with France's presence on the PCC than before but, not unreasonably,
seek an enlargement to accord with the changed composition of the UN.
Moderate Arabs have suggested that the U.S. might wish to consider taking
the lead in such an enlargement.
Assistant Secretaries Cleveland and Talbot expressed
the Department's deep appreciation of Dr. Johnson's patient diplomatic
skills so vividly demonstrated again during his just-completed visits
to Near East capitals.
It was agreed to meet again on June 27, at which time
Dr. Johnson hopes to have a first draft of his proposals.
At meetings on June 8 with the Department working group
it was agreed that prior to June 27 the Department will:
1) Develop information on screening procedures used
in previous refugee interrogations in other areas;
2) Re-examine the "legislative history" of
the problem of compensation ("and" vs. "or") as
provided for in Resolution 194;
3) Be in touch with Dean Sayre regarding his sponsorship
of a possible series of "social" meetings between Dr. Johnson
and appropriate Congressional leaders, after June 27, for informal discussion
of the Johnson mission.
Dr. Johnson accepted the Department's suggestion that
he see, in the interim, certain Congressional leaders identified with
movements favoring U.S. sponsorship of direct Arab-Israel negotiations.
/1/Source: Department of State, Central Files, 325.84/6-762.
Confidential; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Crawford on June 12.
Sources: Foreign
Relations of the United States, 1961-1963: Near East, 1962-1963,
V. XVIII. DC: GPO,
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