319. Letter From the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (Schnyder) to the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Cleveland)1
Dear Mr. Cleveland,
It was a particular pleasure for me to meet with you last Saturday2 and I want to thank you very much for the warm and encouraging interest you have, again on this occasion, shown for the problems of my Office.
[Page 702]The possibility to speak with you about these problems was highly welcome just now, shortly before the Economic and Social Council and then the General Assembly will discuss the question of the future of my Office and at a time when its work in new refugee situations is beginning to consolidate itself and when, finally, strong efforts should be made to finish its major aid projects for “old” refugees within the mandate.
As promised, you will find in the annex a note describing various aspects of the latter problem.3
I am convinced that, if we want to complete this task, we must concentrate on it now in the most effective way. This is a challenging but certainly also a realistic aim. Otherwise the work of my Office, as it is now organised, would soon risk becoming somewhat futile.
However, the financial responsibilities with which I am confronted are heavy. The cost of completing the programme for “old” mandate refugees in 1962 and 1963 will total 10.4 million dollars of which 5 million dollars is the target for 1962 and 5.4 million dollars for 1963. In addition, for 1963 my Executive Committee has approved an amount of 1.4 million dollars to meet the needs for new refugee situations throughout the world and to provide for continuing complementary aid activities primarily in Europe. It is already apparent that there will be a shortfall of some 2 million dollars in contributions toward the 1962 regular programmes of 5 million dollars. Assuming governmental contributions for 1963 do not exceed the 1962 level there will be a shortfall of 4 million dollars in the amount required toward the completion of the major aid program which, added to the 1.4 million dollars for new situations and continuing activities in 1963, will make our total unmet needs almost 6 million dollars.
In view of this serious situation I feel it is my responsibility to make an earnest appeal to governments to renew their efforts to provide the necessary funds to carry out those programmes. I shall concentrate my efforts on countries in Europe and I have good hopes that it will be possible to stimulate among them a significant new movement of solidarity. I am also determined to take advantage of some rather promising other sources of income. But it is very evident that, without substantial help from the United States, I shall not be able to fulfil my task, or even to find the European countries ready and confident enough for the act of generosity required from them.
My Office, and indeed the entire international community, is ever aware and appreciative of the leadership and generosity of the Government of the United States over the years in the cause of refugees. Since the establishment of UNRRA immediately after the Second World War, and continuing through the implementation of the programmes of [Page 703] the International Refugee Organisation and more recently the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, your Government has been in the front rank of nations who have stimulated the conscience and inspired the efforts of the entire international community on behalf of refugees.
I feel that such an international humanitarian undertaking will ultimately and largely be judged by the way it will be brought to its completion. Countries which have carried and are still carrying the heavy load of that enterprise should therefore be interested in making an appropriate final effort to guarantee the success of this undertaking while, at the same time, highlighting what has been achieved by their earlier sacrifices, amounting literally to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Making such an effort would not only give them this satisfaction but also allow them, later on, to reduce very substantially the contributions to the regular programme of my Office.
Under the given circumstances, I would like to suggest that the United States Government may consider a level of contribution, regarded as justified in relationship to the Programme of complementary assistance of my Office for which it is expected to spend 1.4 million dollars for 1963 (and approximately the same during the following years).
Furthermore, it would be particularly helpful if the United States Government could envisage an appropriate contribution towards meeting the still uncovered financial requirements of my Office under its regular programme for 1962 and 1963, for the latter as far as the last major aid projects are concerned.
I do in no way wish to anticipate the conclusions which the American authorities may finally draw from these facts. But, reading these personal lines, you will perhaps forgive me or even find it useful if, looking on the question in a purely practical way, I give you an estimate of a final contribution with which the United States Government could effectively play its part to make sure that the last major aid projects for “old” mandate-refugees can be properly implemented. Having in mind the requirements of this task, amounting to 10.4 million dollars minus 3 million dollars already contributed, and a possible matching percentage of 33%, I think that a United States participation to the extent of 2 million dollars would well serve the purpose, it being understood that my Office would have to search for any additional (especially private) source of income available to finance the remaining difference. Such a one time United States contribution could hardly be considered unreasonably high if compared with contributions pledged by the United States Government during the last years:
- 1960—$1,650,000.
- 1961—$1,300,000.
- 1962—$1,200,000.
However, what has affected the financial position of the regular programme of my Office in 1961 and 1962 was the fact that 500,000. dollars and 600,000. dollars respectively were earmarked for the entirely separate and self-sustained action in favour of Algerian refugees.
I do not know what kind of budgetary problems could arise in this context. I would only like to point out that the final contribution towards major aid projects should, if possible, be paid or at least pledged early in 1963 so that the work of my Office, implementing these projects, will not be delayed (to the detriment of the refugees as well as of the United Nations budget and of the governments who have to finance it).
I would be most grateful to you for further sympathetic consideration of this matter. When, in this respect, any contacts with the European governments will have led to more tangible results, I shall not fail to inform you.4
With kindest regards,
Sincerely yours,
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 324.8411/7–2062. Personal.↩
- Schnyder met with Cleveland on July 14.↩
- Annex not printed.↩
- On August 6 Cleveland replied to Schnyder in a letter which concluded: “While the United States endorses your program, in view of the economic recovery in Europe to which you make reference, it will be difficult for us to justify increasing our contribution to your regular program for 1963. Contributions which may be made to programs supported by your good offices function will depend upon developments which cannot fully be foreseen at present. As you know we are providing extensive support through other channels to meet refugee needs in other parts of the world, including Cuban refugees in our own country. The requirements which you outline will be carefully reviewed in light of these overall needs in determining the extent of refugee assistance which we will be able to provide through your office.” (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 324.8411/7–2062)↩