Clifford Papers
Memorandum by the Department of State to President Truman
Subject: Relief for Arab and Jewish Refugees in the Near East.
Reference is made to the memorandum which you approved, on August 19,1 authorizing the Department to approach other agencies [Page 1479] of this Government with a view to assuming some share of the international burden of relief for refugees in the Near East, and to continue efforts to secure immediate donations from American private relief organizations. Recently reports from our Missions in the Near East and from the Acting Mediator have indicated a desperate need for blankets and clothing in addition to larger quantities of food supplies. The situation is becoming daily more critical as cold weather sets in. After approaching other agencies of the Government to ascertain what assistance might be given, it appears that none of the relief supplies which are urgently required can be made available under existing legislative authority. The response to the Department’s efforts to date to stimulate contributions through voluntary organizations has been wholly inadequate to meet these urgent needs.
Reports from our Missions in the Near East emphasize that the failure of the United States Government to render substantial assistance in this emergency is jeopardizing our relations with the Near Eastern states. Moreover, it is the Department’s considered view that continued failure of this Government to respond to the critical needs of these refugees will be directly reflected in the attitude of the Arab states towards any political settlement of the Palestine problem.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff have strongly recommended that this Government contribute to the relief of these refugees because of the importance of improving relations with the Arab states in view of their strategic importance. The Secretary of Defense concurs strongly with the views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.2 (Copy of letter attached)
It is understood that the question of your authority as Commander-in-Chief to direct the furnishing of material aid to foreign populations in the absence of specific statutory authorization is one which the decisions of the courts and the opinions of the Attorney General have never firmly and clearly answered. Such authority has, however, been broadly construed where the surrounding facts and circumstances were sufficient to dictate the necessity of such action in the interest of the defense and security of the United States. It is the view of the Department that the surrounding facts and circumstances warrant consideration of the exercise of such authority.
The Department of State therefore recommends that under your authority as Commander-in-Chief, the National Military Establishment be directed to release to the extent available from stocks on hand or which may be quickly obtained from other departments or agencies: 100,000 blankets; 5,000 tons of wheat; cloth or appropriate clothing for 200,000 persons; typhus vaccine, atebrine and other urgently needed medical supplies; and to provide transportation facilities [Page 1480] for shipment of these supplies to the Near East. The total value of supplies and transport should not exceed $1,500,000, to cover the period from now until the end of the year. A relief program for the period January–September 1949 is to be considered by the General Assembly. A recommendation on this subject will be submitted as soon as more information is available on the total requirements and the manner by which it is proposed to be financed.