867N.48/7–149
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of Defense (Johnson)
My Dear Mr. Secretary: The receipt is acknowledged of your letter dated June 14, 1949, in which you analyze the probable effects of the Arab refugee problem upon United States military and strategic [Page 1203] interests in the Near East, in response to the Department’s request for such an appreciation. This appreciation, as well as the intelligence estimate prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency which you transmitted as an enclosure, are of considerable value to the Department. The Department is transmitting your letter together with its enclosure to the President1 for his information.
You are doubtless aware that the President recently made a decision to recommend to the Congress that this Government, within the framework of the United Nations, support a program for the repatriation and resettlement of the Palestinian refugees with United States financial and technical assistance. Such assistance would be conditional upon (1) formulation by the Palestine Conciliation Commission or the United Nations of a plan which has a reasonable chance of implementation at a reasonable cost; (2) full acceptance by Israel and the Arab states of the responsibilities involved and their active cooperation in the execution of an agreed plan; and (3) appropriate assistance from international and other sources.
If these conditions are fulfilled, the execution of such a program of repatriation and resettlement would have important effects in meeting the objectives of the National Military Establishment in the Near East.
You are assured that the position of the National Military Establishment will be given the fullest consideration in the further development of this Government’s policy toward the Arab refugee problem.
Sincerely yours,
- With Secretary Acheson’s memorandum of July 7, not printed.↩