(5) Shiloah asked if "Arab rearming and threats of second round"
had caused concern at Istanbul. On my negative reply, he commented
that Israel must regard seriously such rearming, especially that of
Egypt with scores of tanks and some jet planes. He expressed fear
that Arabs would interpret western shipment of supplies as approval
of threats of second round. My assurances that US is convinced UK
has no such purpose seemed not to satisfy Shiloah.
  Sent Department 869; repeated London 142, Jerusalem 100, Baghdad
,53, Beirut 78, Damascus 58, Jidda 33; Department pass Amman 64,
Cairo 73, Karachi for McGhee.
                                                       McDoNALD

                         Editorial Note
  The General Assembly, at a brief meeting on December 8, adopted
the draft resolution dealing. with the question of assisting the Pales-
tinian refugees that had been proposed by the Ad Hoc Political Com-
mittee. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 47-0, with 6 absten-
tions (United Nations, Official Records of the Fourth Session of the
General Assembly,,Plenary Meetings of the General Assembly, Sum-
mary Records of Meetings 20 September-10 December 1949 (herein-
after identified as GA, 4th sess., Plenary), page 571).
  The resolution was based on the First Interim Report of the Eco,
nomic Survey Mission. It recognized that "continued assistance for
the relief of the Palestine refugees is necessary to prevent conditions
of starvation and distress among them and to further conditions of
peace and stability, and that constructive measures should be under-
taken at an early date with a view to the termination of international
assistance for relief."
  The resolution also considered that "the equivalent of approxi-
mately $33,700,000 will be required for direct relief and works pro-
grammes for the period 1 January to 31 December 1950 of which
the equivalent of $20,200,000 is required for direct relief and
$13,500,000 for works programmes; that the equivalent of approxi-
mately $21,200,000 will be required for works programmes from 1 Jan-
uary to 30 June 1951, all inclusive of administrative expenses; and
that direct relief should be terminated not later than 31 December 1950
unless otherwise determined by the General Assembly at its fifth
regular session."
  The resolution established the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to carry out the
direct relief and works programs recommended by the Economic Sur-
vey Mission and to consult with Near Eastern Governments concern-


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