Evening star., 1951-06-17

nearly 81 billion. It wants this it
program for 1852 because of tn
of this area, and because OF "incl
sion in the Arab states"
OF the total sum, $415 millio
military assistance to Greece, Tur-
key and Iran. The proposed legis-
lation provides, however, that un-
der certain security considerations
as much as 10 per cent of this
military fund could be diverted to
the other Near East countries
Such diversion would constitute
the first direct military aid to
these countries, and the proposal
is. therefore, new departure in
policy.
An unspecified sum. probably in
the neighborhood Of $500 million,
would be directed to economic aid
in Greece and Turkey. Other eco
nomic aid in the area is estimated
at $125 million. with $24,050, 900
of this amount marked for Iran.
This also is the first proposal for
an economic grant to Iran.
A new policy approach to the
destructive Arab-Israeli conflict
likewise is found in the suggested
apportionment of funds in the
economic assistance field. Israel,
singiy, would receive $23.5 million
for economic projects; the Arab
states, all together, would receive
the same amount. Emphasis
here is on agricultural develop
inent. with grant Of SIT million
proposed for this purpose to Is
rael, and $40 million for the same
purpose to the group Of Arab
states. Administration sponsors
of the program consider the eco
nomic grants essential to a prompt
initiation Of desirable projects,
with the probability that further
developments in the economic
field will warrant loans from the
International Bank or the Export
Import Bank.
Seek Refugee Solution
The most concentrated attack
on the Arab-Israeli irnpasse is
directed at resolving the problem
OF the Arab refugees of the
Palestine war. Nearly a million
Arabs were displaced, during the
hostilities. and failure of the two
parties to reach any solution of
this tragic circumstance has been
considered, more than any other
single element. responsible for the
continued enmity. If any degree
of stability and security is to be
effected in the Near East, this
mess must be cleared up.
In the basic data supplied by
the Executive Branch to Congress
in support Of the mutual security
program, the following reference
is made:
"The Palestine refugee program
during the past year has succeeded
in maintaining these homeless
Arabs on the barest of living
standards. During that period ten
sions in the area have abated
somewhat. Effective steps must
now be taken toward a permanent
solution of the refugee problem.
Effective steps must include:
"a. The continuance of direct
relief. though on a diminishing
scale, and tsf
b. The refrigeration of the
refugees into the economic life of
the Near East.
ITO effect refrigeration it will
be necessary to open new lands
for the refugees to settle, and toI
provide roads and basic public
utilities and services in such newly
opened lands. The assistance pro-
posed =. represents our contribu-
Non to the massive effort to make
\ Integration reality"
) yor this contribution the legis-
Ia m proposes $50 million. Add
ed y this, administration spokes-
men are hopeful that cash con-
tributions will be made by other
countries. and that lands and serv-
ices will be made available by the
Arab states where the resettlementI
may take place. Compensation for
Arab property lost in Israel, one
OF the bitterest issues in the prob
lem, may be made in part from the
$50 million principal sum.
Hopefulness that this line of at
tack on the refugee problem will
be successful has been encouraged
by recent indications from the
Arab League, with Egypt taking
!. the lead, that they are willing toI
attempt resettlement of the Arab
DPS. rather than hold to their orig
tnal 1nsistence that these must bel
repatriated to former Palestine
areas. The refugees, incidentally
are mentioned as an ideal tar
get" for the subversion attributed
to Soviet Communist influences.
Notionolism Importont
While the administration data
on the security program does not
go into detail on the nature of
the Soviet "subversion," one phase
of this effort was discussed in al
recent speech at Princeton Uni
versity by Egyptian Ambassador
Rahim.
Stressing the Importance of ma
tionalist feelings among the Near
Eastern countries, Mr.. Rahim
added:
"The Communists are not To-
menting class struggles nor advo-
eating agrarian or other economic
reforms, but they are inciting po-
litical trouble. They do not call
their parties in the Near East
Communist Parties: they call them
Committees of National Liberation.
Il -