February 8, 1954 Arab Refugees

The resettlement of the refugees in Arab lands was proposed by a United States Congressional Study Mission in a report to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.

Prepared by Congressman Lawrence H. Smith of Wisconsin and Congressman Winston L. Prouty of Vermont who visited the Near East from September 27 to November 2, 1953, the report proposed:

“The United States should serve notice that it will not support the return of the Arab refugees to their former homes within the boundaries of Israel under existing conditions.”

In addition the Congressional Mission group suggested that the U.S.:

“should give help to the host countries in developing their resources so that a substantially larger population can make a living, and we should contribute to the financing of the relief burden for an interim period while land reclamation work goes forward.”