Commission/Jaffa & District Inhabitants Committee discuss refugees, Arab orange groves, blocked accounts – UNCCP 12th meeting (Lausanne) – Summary Record

UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE

SUMMARY RECORD OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE CONCILIATION COMMISSION AND

THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE JAFFA AND DISTRICT COMMITTEE

held in Lausanne on Friday

13 May 1949, at 12:45 p.m.

Mr. BEYROUTI made a statement explaining three urgent measures which the Jaffa Committee had already asked for in a memorandum to the Commission, and the grounds on which it based its contention that those measures should be taken immediately and that a prompt solution of the whole refugee problem was essential (document ORG/14).

Mr. ETHRIDGE observed that he had had some conversations with Dr. Meron, economic advisor to the Israeli delegation, on the subject of the orange groves. Dr. Meron had suggested a meeting with representatives of the Jaffa Committee to discuss the economic questions involved, and had stated that if such a meeting were held and resulted in concrete proposals, he would at once communicate those proposals to his Government and ask for instructions. Mr. Ethridge had received the impression that there might be a possibility of working out an arrangement for early return of the grove owners, and the necessary labourers.

Mr. BEYROUTI said that the Committee would consider the suggestion and communicate its views to the Commission.

In reply to a question from Mr. Ethridge, who asked if the Committee could give an estimate of the amount of the refugee blocked accounts, Mr. BEYROUTI said that that amount was thought to be between four and five million pounds.

Mr. ABDULRAHIM remarked that the Committee would be able to supply figures as to the number of labourers necessary to operate the orange groves.

The CHAIRMAN thanked Mr. Beyrouti for his clear and helpful statement, and requested that a copy of it should be furnished to the Commission for its further consideration. The Commission was, already in contact with the Israeli delegation on some of the questions mentioned, and the representatives of the Jaffa Committee would be kept informed of developments.