Speech #810075711

Here Is an opportunity to deal with a very delicate situation in the Near East which has often been referred to as one of the kegs of dynamite or powder kegs in the international situation. Furthermore. as a government we have made certain promises to other members of the United Nations and I think it is very important that we fulfill those promises. There has been established a special commission of the United Nations. known as the United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees. This United Nations organization has set as an objective a fund of some $32.000.000. of which the United States was to be asked for $16.000.000. I think it should be noted that approximately $13.000.000 of the $16.000.000 which other countries are committed to has already been subscribed. or is in the process of being subscribed. I realize that $14.000.000 is a very generous contribution on the part of our Government. but those who have testified in reference to the tragic situation in the Near East and the large number of displaced persons in that area. tell us that the overall budget of $32.000.000. which was established by the United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees Organization. was a basic minimum. I point out. for example. that there are in Europe only about 800.000 displaced persons. for whom we appropriate something like $70.000.000. Here we have an equal number of people. and we are being asked for the sum of $16.000.000. In talking with one of the representatives of an organization working in this field. a representative of the American Friends Service. to which has been assigned a particular area designated for relief activities. he pointed out that these refugees. instead of being given the 2.100 or 2.200 calories per day which they should have as a basic minimum. are getting by on 1.500 calories a day. He likewise pointed out that the administrative costs of this activity are the lowest administrative costs of any international organization in the field of relief. More than that.