Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, Volume V

357.AC/10–2650: Telegram

The Chargé in Syria (Jones) to the Secretary of State

restricted

Damascus, October 26, 1950—noon.

200. Re Deptel 143, October 17.¹ Legation believes Prime Minister Qudsi’s understanding basis Syria coup [apparent omission] PRA is that projects not be directly identified with resettlement refugees until political settlement Palestine problem. While some Syrians may privately concede that resettlement is not only inevitable but even desirable and while UNRWA projects must eventually be identified with resettlement, it is doubtful if Syrians generally are psychologically prepared to now move along as fast as reference telegram contemplates. There may therefore be adverse reaction from government and press to blunt proposal that UN funds be available only for “projects initiated by NE governments which repatriate or reestablish refugees”.²

Sent Department 200, repeated info unnumbered, Beirut from Damascus.

Jones

1. This was a repeat of telegram 342 to Cairo, not printed; but see penultimate paragraph of the editorial note on p. 1023.
2. Taken from the sentence in telegram 141, which read as follows: “30 million as initial contribution to a reintegration fund to be available only for projects initiated by NE govts which repatriate or reestab refugees.”