Evening star., 1950-05-21


point-four plan for bringing
American technical skills to un-
developed areas. Another. less
publicized. but ranking high in
urgency, is the United Nations
program for rehabilitation of some
three-quarters of million people
displaced from their homes and
their own country during the
Arab-Israeli war.
The omnibus legislation au-
thorizes an appropriation of $27.-
100000 for this program, half Of
the estimated budget required for
the effort up to June 80, 1851.
To be administered by a special
U. N. relief and work agency,
the program is being shaped as
much as possible toward long
term capital developments with a
high labor factor which will help
alleviate immediate individual dis
tress.
Canadian Is Director
The U. N. agency includes rep
resentatives of the United States,
Britain, France and Turkey. Con-
tributions from these and other
United Nations members toward
the remaining half of the budget
are expected soon after the
United States appropriation is
completed. Three national va
cancies on the agency are ex-
pected to be filled from among
the subsequent contributors and
the Arab governments, already en-
gagged in relief work among the
displaced people, are expected to
provide additional funds. goods or
services. Operating director Of the
agency is Brig. Gen. Howard Ken
nedy. q civil engineer and con-
servationist by profession. Gen.
Kennedy and a staff already are
on the ground in the Near East.
The most substantive guidance
for Gen. Kennedy's effort is found
in the recommendations of the
U. N. Economic Survey Mission,
forerunner of the Relief and
Works Agency. which was sent
into the Near East in 1949 under
the direction of Gordon Clapp Of
the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Mr.. Clapp's group recommended
a gradual reduction in direct relief
for the displaced persons. with the
termination target for this effort
set at the end of this year, and
the substitution of practical
public works program of perma-
nent value.
Briefly, the Clapp mission rec
commended the following types OF
public works projects: Terracing
of land for water conservation
and prevention of soil erosion,
afforestation, highway construc-
tion where economically justi-
fable, irrigation and utilization Of
water resources. AS so-called
pilot projects, the Clapp mission
recommended fully contained ven-
lures at Wadi Zerqa in Jordan.
Wadi Gilt in AraD Palestine, Litani
River in Lebanon and the Ghab
Valley in Syria. Other engineer
ing proposals were airport i'm
provements and port improvement
at Latakia. Syria. The Syrian
government already is undertak-
ing the Latakia development out
of q $6,000,000 loan from Saudi
Arabia.
Since the greatest total of the
displaced persons. about 100000,
are in Jordan and what was for
merly Arab Palestine, it is thought
likely that the Wadi Zerqa project
will be the first undertaken by the
Kennedy group. This would in
volve terracing, afforestation.
highways and dam construction.
It is hoped in Washington, Incl
dentally, that the u. N. agency
will be able to retain title to- the
permanent improvements or pass
them on to Near East govern
ments under conditions by which
income will return to a fund for
continuing expansion of projects.
Such a creation of continuing
wealth might in turn encourage
participation Of the international
Bank or the Export-Import Bank
In Near East development work.
RFC to Make Advance
Initial efforts for relief of the
Palestine refugees have been
financed by a $33 million fund OF
which the United States con-
tributed SIG million. with the Arat
states providing about $6 million
and the other U. N. members sup
plying the balance, In the interim
between this program and the one
now authorized. loan of $4.s
million was advanced from work
Ing capital of the United Nations
and about $2.8 million from the
international Refugee Organiza.
ton. These two loans will be re.
paid from the $549 million now
being accumulated and provision
Is contained in the authorization
legislation just passed for an in
terim advance of So million from
the Reconstruction Finance Corp
Appropriation legislation is ex'
pected promptly.
Attitude of the Near East gov
ernments. at first somewhat ques.
tioning. toward this newest ap.
proach to solving the displaced
persons problems was indicated
in a statement made a few day!
ago by DR.. Charles Malik, Leban.
ese Minister and delegate to ths
United Nations, at Lake Success.
''The Works and Relief Agency
has just started it's work." DR.
Malik said. Gen. Kennedy vii
find many ready to col.
laborate with him. The United
States has again generously movee
to play its part in this great enter.
prise. In the coming few months
u u