Consideration of Israeli aide-mémoire re. refugees’ blocked bank accounts – UNCCP 284th meeting (New York) – Summary Record

UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FOURTH MEETING (closed)

Held at Headquarters, New York,
on Tuesday, 15 July 1952, at 3:00  p.m.

CONTENTS:

Consideration of aide-mémoire from the Government of Israel on the question of blocked accounts

CONSIDERATION OF AIDE MEMOIRE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL ON THE QUESTION OF BLOCKED ACCOUNTS

The CHAIRMAN read the text of a draft statement which it had been proposed that he should read in the course the next meting of the Commission with the representative of Israel.

The Commission considered the draft statement to be read by the Chairman at the forthcoming meeting with the representative of Israel, and agreed on various modifications.

Mr. MENEMENCIOGLU (Turkey) raised the question when the statement would be made public.

The CHAIRMAN thought that that was a matter which would be settled in the light of the reaction of the representative of Israel. If Israel did what the Commission urged it to in the last paragraph of the draft statement, namely, indicated publicly at an early date that it was working out the details for the release of the accounts and announced the initial amount it was proposed to release, there would be no difficulty. If that was not the case, the Commission would have to consider what it would do.

Mr. MENEMENCIOGLU (Turkey) suggested that it might be well to bring to the attention of the representative of Israel, in an informal manner, the importance of ensuring that the largest possible number of holders of blocked accounts should obtain something before the next session of the General Assembly.

The CHAIRMAN agreed that the matter should be stressed in private talks with Mr. Rafael.

Mr. CHAI (Acting Principal Secretary) asked at what stage it would be advisable to take steps to inform the refugees of the unblocking of their accounts.

The CHAIRMAN thought that that could be done once Israel had announced the amount of the first instalment and the fact that the details of procedure for payment were being worked out.

Mr. MENEMENCIOGLU (Turkey) said that at what stage the Arab Governments would have to be consulted, since the payment would have to take place in Arab territory and under the laws of the Arab countries.

The CHAIRMAN considered that the Commission should tackle that problem when Israel was publicly committed to the operation. It would thus be possible to avoid any misunderstanding concerning the amount of the first instalment, for example. In the meantime, experts could work out the procedures which, once established, would have to be communicated to the Arab Governments. He suggested that the other Members of the Commission might wish to make statements after he had read the statement on behalf of the Commission.

Mr. ORDONNEAU (France) thought that such a procedure would provide an opportunity for demonstrating the fact that the Commission was to agreement on the matter.

The meeting rose at 4:15 p.m.