Speech #900086690

And Israels future Is in the Middle East. with which she is now face to face as never before. Mr. President. because the recent war has created such an entirely new situation for the Arab refugees and because it appears such a key to possible equations of peaceful coexistence in this troubled part of the world. I revisited the Middle East to see and learn and report. Once before. in 1959. I inquired into the administration of the refugee problem. After a careful look at the UNRWA problem. I then reported to the Senate that there were serious problems In the UNRWA program in Jordan because of the fraudulent and corrupt use of ration cards. This situation was particularly appalling because many refugees. primarily children who needed and deserved assistance. were denied help because of flagrant profiteering on the part of puny relief racketeering. Despite assurances from both Jordanian and American officials that an effective reform would take place. little rectification of the relief rolls has been accomplished. I mention this problem of rectification of the refugee relief rolls because the same problem is still before us. and now that there are so many new or displaced refugees it is Imperative that the available supplies be given only to those whose needs and eligibility have been properly certified. I visited Beirut. Lebanon. where I spoke at length with Lawrence Michelmore. the CommissionerGeneral of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. and with prominent and official Lebanese.