United Nations
Addendum to the Report of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees
General Assembly
Official Records: Twentieth Session
Supplement No.11A (A/6011/Rev. 1/Add.1)
United Nations, New York, 1966

PART ONE REPORT ON THE THIRTEENTH SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S PROGRAMME (Geneva, 10-17 May 1965)

I.          Introduction

OPENING OF THE SESSION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS

1.         The Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme held its thirteenth session from 10 to 17 May 1965 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva.

The Committee elected the following officers by acclamation:

Chairman:         H.E. Ambassador S.F. Rae (Canada);

Vice-Chairman:            Dr. S. Azimi (Iran);

Rapporteur:      Mr. J. D. Miller (United Kingdom).

2.         All the Member Governments of the Committee were represented at the session as follows;

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3.         The Governments of Burundi, the Republic of Ghana, Portugal, Senegal, Spain and Uganda were represented by an observer, as was the Sovereign Order of Malta. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Labour Office, the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the Council of Europe, the European Economic Community, the Inter-governmental Committee for European Migration, the League of Arab States and the Organization of African Unity were also represented.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

Decision of the Committee

4.         The Executive Committee decided:

(1)   The adopt the following agenda (A/AC.96/273/Rev. 2);

(2)   To include in the agenda of its fourteenth session an item entitled "International protection".

1.     Election of officers.

2.     Adoption of the agenda (A/AC.96/273/Rev.2).

3.     Statement by the High Commissioner.

4.     Progress report on UNHCR major Aid Programs as at 31 December 1964 (A/AC.96/278).

5.     Report on UNHCR current operations (A/AC.96/277 and Add.1 and A/C.96/INF.38 and 39).

6.     Report on the resettlement of refugees (A/AC.96/275 and 283 and A/AC.96/INF.41).

7.     Note on the use of the Emergency Fund (A/AC.96/274 and Add.l, A/AC.96/INF.34, 36 and 37).

8.     Report of the Ad Hoc Sub-Committee on Auditing Questions (A/AC.96/284 and A/AC.96/289).

9.     Financial status of UNHCR project funds:

(a)   Financial status of UNHCR project funds-general (A/AC.96/276 and Add.1).

(b)   Provisional financial statements for 1964 (A/AC.96/279).

(c)   Adjustments and cancellations in UNHCR projects and commitments in respect of which payment has not yet been made (A/AC.96/278, chapter II).

(d)   Report on investments for the year ended 31 December 1964 (A/AC.96/280).

10.  Report on status of contributions (A/AC.96/281 and Add.1 and A/AC.96/INF.35 and Add.1).

11.  Proposed budget for the liquidation of Major Aid Programmes (A/AC.96/282).

12.  Current programmes:

(a)   UNHCR Programme for 1964-projects not financed as of 31 December 1964 (A/AC.96/288).

(b)   UNHCR Programme for 1965-new and revised projects (A/AC.96/286 and Add.1, 2 and 3).

13.  Administrative expenditure (A/AC.96/287).

14.  Relations with specialized agencies and inter-governmental organizations-proposed amendments to the rules of procedure (A/AC.96/285).

15.  Other questions.

16.  Consideration of the draft report.

REPRESENTATION OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY

Decision of the Committee

5.         The Executive Committee decided to invite the Organization of African Unity to be represented at its public meetings by an observer, in accordance with rule 38 of the Rules of Procedure.

STATEMENT BY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER (agenda item 3)

6.         The High Commissioner made a statement [1] in which he gave a brief account of the progress achieved during 1964 and of the present position concerning the problems facing his Office. He emphasized the increasing scope and magnitude of some of the problems with which his Office had been called upon to deal, in particular in Africa where the fluidity of refugee problems made long-term planning extremely difficult. The High Commissioner also drew attention to the amount that would still be required to enable him to meet the financial targets of the 1963 and 1965 Programmes, and expressed the hope that the financial support required to meet the demands of newly emerging refugee problems would be forthcoming.

7.         In conclusion, the High Commissioner read to the Committee a statement in which Mr. Opperman, Australian Minister of Immigration, expressed his warm interest in the work of assistance to refugees.[2]

8.         The representatives who took part in the debate expressed their appreciation for the statement made by the High Commissioner and paid a tribute to the manner in which his Office was fulfilling its humanitarian task. They recognized that the problems of refugees in Africa and Asia were calling for increasing attention on the part UNHCR. They noted with appreciation that the host countries were making available considerable resources to assist the refugees on their territory.

9.         A number of speakers expressed their concern with the residual problems of European refugees, and pointed out that new refugees continued to arrive. The representatives of Germany and Yugoslavia gave and account of the problems of refugees in their respective countries, the details of which may be found in the summary record of the 112th meeting.

10.       With regard to the financing of UNHCR programmes, the strong catalytic effect of the current programme and the considerable contributions made in terms of bilateral aid to some of the host countries were highlighted. Several representatives, however, expressed concern at the financial shortfall in the 1963 and 1965 Programmes and endorsed the High Commissioner's appeal for the additional financial support required to enable him to implement these programmes fully.

11.       Several speakers emphasized their interest in the question of international protection, which was the basic function of the Office of the High Commissioner. They referred in particular to the limitations resulting from the dateline in the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, and learned interest that this problem had been the subject of a colloquium which had recently taken place at Bellaggio, Italy, organized by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to whom thanks were due for their initiative. They expressed the hope that Governments would give careful consideration to the results of the Colloquium in the coming months. A tribute was paid to the asylum policy of several countries in Africa which had generously admitted large groups of refugees to their territory.

12.       The Chairman of the Commission on Refugees of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies made a statement in which he highlighted the problems of refugees with which the voluntary agencies were dealing in many parts of the world, and stressed the close co-operation which had been developed between the governmental authorities, the inter-governmental organization and the agencies themselves. In the course of its session the Committee had further occasion to note the important contribution made to the work of international assistance to refugees by the voluntary agencies, both national and international, the World Refugee Year committees and the refugee councils set up for this purpose in various countries. At the 113th meeting, the representative of the Lebanon questioned the reference made in the statement of the Chairman of the Refugee Commission of ICVA to the "open door" policy of one of the countries mentioned. A summary of the statement of the representative of the Lebanon and of a subsequent response by the representative of Israel may be found in the summary record of the meeting.

Decisions of the Committee

13.       The Executive Committee:

(1)   Took note with deep appreciation of the introductory statement by the High Commissioner;

(2)   Expressed its satisfaction with the effective manner in which the High Commissioner was carrying out the many and varied tasks which his Office was facing in assisting in the solution of those refugee problems in various parts of the world for which he is responsible.

II.         Reports on UNHCR activities

PROGRESS REOPORT ON UNHCR MAJOR AID PROGRAMMES (agenda item 4)

14.       The Committee considered the progress report on UNHCR major aid programmes (A/AC.96/278), in which the High Commissioner gave the position as at 31 December 1964.

15.       Introducing the report, the representative of the High Commissioner stated that the caseload had been reduced by nearly 10,000, leaving some 21,000 refugees for two-thirds of whom solutions had already been worked out. For reasons beyond the High Commissioner's control it would not be possible to complete the programmes in the Far East, Germany and Greece by the end of 1965 as had been anticipated. The High Commissioner hoped that with the full support of the Governments concerned it would be possible to bring this humanitarian task to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion. The representative of the High Commissioner added that since the report had been published the number of "old" refugees still in camps had fallen below 1,000 as compared with the 85,000 refugees living in camps when the UNREF programme was started in 1995.

16.       The representatives who spoke expressed their satisfaction at the progress made in implementing the major aid programmes in 1964. Some speakers stated their concern at the delays incurred in the completion of some of these programmes, particularly with regard to the construction of housing in Greece. They expressed the hope that the fullest account would be taken of the need to bring them to an end at the earliest opportunity, preferably by the end of 1966. They also recommended that further problems which might arise in respect of the "old" European refugees be dealt with under the UNHCR current programme.

17.       The representative of Greece replied that the authorities were facing a considerable problem in making available suitable land which was in short supply. Measures had been taken to speed up the construction of housing, including a home for aged refugees.

18.       The High Commissioner stated that it was his wish and intention that the major aid programmes be completed at the earliest possible date and he proposed to reappraise the situation in consultation with Governments, and to report to the Committee at its next session as to when the programmes were likely to be completed. The two new projects presented to the Committee for the liquidation of the major aid programmes were submitted within the financial framework of those programmes, the financial target of which would not be altered. These last substantial projects entailed a limited participation by UNHCR which would enable the authorities of the countries where these projects were being put into effect to carry out programmes of a much more substantial size for the refugees concerned.

19.       Several representatives enquired into the problems which might arise with regard to the counselling of refugees when the major aid programmes came to an end. The High Commissioner informed the Committee of a proposed plan. Details of this plan and an account of further discussion on the subject may be found in the section concerning the report on current operations, paragraphs 21 to 34 below.

Decision of the Committee

20.       The Executive Committee:

Took note with appreciation of the progress report on the UNHCR major aid programme submitted by the High Commissioner in document A/AD.96/278.

REPORT ON UNHCR CURRENT OPERATIONS (agenda item 5)

21.       The Committee considered the Report on UNHCR current operations in 1964 financed under the UNHCR current programmes, the Emergency Fund and Special Trust Funds for operations outside the programme, submitted by the High Commissioner in document A/AD.96/277 and ADD.1.

22.       In introducing the report, the representative of the High Commissioner recalled that nearly 150,000 refugees had benefited from the High Commissioner's current operations in 1964, some 140,000 of them in Africa. He stressed that local settlement in Africa could not easily be achieved within one calendar year since most projects concerned land settlement, which could only be considered successful once the refugees were able to live off their own crops. A further difficulty facing UNHCR arose from the fact that new problems of refugees had emerged south of the Sahara, which were spread over a much larger geographical area than in previous years. The total number of refugees in Africa, including those settled under earlier UNHCR programmes, had been estimated at 400,000 at the end of 1964, as compared with 310,000 at the end of 1963. With regard to refugees in Asia, UNHCR was participating in participating in projects for local settlement carried out by the governmental authorities and some of the voluntary agencies.

23.       In conclusion, the representative of the High Commissioner drew attention to the universal character of the present word of UNHCR.

24.       A discussion took place on the delays incurred in the settlement of refugees on the land, referred to in paragraph 48 of the report. The representative of the High Commissioner explained that in the case of land settlement, rapid progress depended on three factors: climatic conditions, the ability of Governments to provide the necessary land and seeds and the willingness of the refugees to settle. There was also a timing difficulty; if the planting season was missed, a four-month delay could not be avoided. As for the willingness of the refugees themselves to settle on the land, there was uncertainty in respect of one group of refugees in Uganda who were at present considering the possibility of voluntary repatriation.

25.       Several representatives raised the question of the extent to which counsellors could be made available for assistance to European refugees under the current programme. They stressed the considerable importance they attached to this form of activity which did so much to speed up and facilitate the solution of the problems of refugees both with regard to their local integration and resettlement. The representative of the High Commissioner pointed out that no provision for counselling was included in the current programme. Counsellors engaged on the major aid programme were however able to devote some of their time to the refugees coming within the purview of the current programme. Furthermore, funds for resettlement counselling might be made available within the allocation for the promotion of resettlement. The High Commissioner added that a plan was being envisaged whereby counsellors might be provided by the host countries whereas the assistance projects for the refugees concerned would be financed from the UNHCR programme.

26.       The representative of the United Kingdom was concerned to know to what extent the counselling of refugees in Europe was being financed under the UNHCR programmes, or was being gradually taken over by national voluntary societies as a part of their current social work. It seemed to him that once the major aid programmes were wound up, the counselling of new refugees should normally become a charge on the countries of asylum, whether it was carried out through the local voluntary agencies or through the governmental authorities. A thorough study of the question would show whether there might be exceptions to this general principle. The representative of the United Kingdom, supported by several other delegations, proposed that a specific recommendation on the important question of counselling should be included in the decision of the Committee, the text of which is given in paragraph 34 below.

27.       The representative of Germany gave the Committee additional information on the refugee camp population in his country and on the assistance provided from German sources, particularly with regard to the housing of refugees.

28.       The representative of Sweden expressed his delegation's concern at the conspicuously slow rate of clearing the camps in Europe, with particular reference to the large camp population still remaining in Germany. The representative of the High Commissioner recalled that the number of camps had further decreased since the end of 1964 and that a project was ready to be put into effect to cover every refugee still in camp.

29.       The representative of China drew attention to the needs of a large number of refugees in Macao, only 350 of whom had been assisted under the 1964 programme, He also stressed the importance his country attached to the assistance being given to other groups of refugees in Asia, where UNHCR now had several representatives.

30.       The representative of Tanzania recalled that the settlement of some 10,000 refugees in the Mwesi highlands had been delayed because of their reluctance to be moved from Burundi. His country was still prepared to discuss the possibility of refugees being resettled from Burundi in Tanzania. In the meantime 1,300 Rwandese refugees in the Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo had benefited from the airlift which was about to be resumed.

31.       The representative of Belgium announced that the Belgian Government had recently made a special contribution of $100,000 towards the UNHCR programme in Burundi.

32.       The Committee also heard statements by the representatives of the ILO in respect of the progress achieved in the integration and zonal development projects in Burundi and the Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on which the ILO had submitted a repot in document A/AD.96/INF.38. The ILO representative stated that good progress had been made in Burundi. He pointed out that a modification in the rate of exchange of the Burundi franc might call for some readjustments in the project. In the Kivu provinces it was hoped that conditions would sufficiently improve to make it possible for the project to be resumed. He further indicated that an offer of assistance had been received from a Belgian institution and that a matching contribution from U.S. aid counterpart funds would also be forthcoming towards the implementation of the project in that area. His statement was amplified by an eye-witness repot of a senior representative of the High Commissioner who had recently visited Burundi and described the favourable impact of the development project on the local integration of the refugees and in particular on their co-operation with the local population.

33.       The Committee heard the observer from Spain who recalled the efforts made by the Spanish Government and the voluntary agencies in providing assistance for Cuban refugees in Spain.

Decisions of the Committee

34.       The Executive Committee:

(1)   Took note with satisfaction of the report on UNHCR current operations in 1964 and of the progress achieved by the Office of the High Commissioner in implementing its current programme;

(2)   Expressed its concern at the difficulties reported in paragraph 43 of the report in respect of the counselling of refugees with a view to their integration;

(3)   Requested the High Commissioner to submit to the Committee at its next session a full study of counselling needs that might arise in countries of asylum in the foreseeable future;

(4)   Requested the High Commissioner,

(a)   To submit his recommendations as to the general principle which should govern the financing of counselling under the UNHCR current programme after 1 January 1966; and,

(b)   If he recommended that counselling services should not be financed under his current programme, to indicate whether the situation of refugees in particular countries nevertheless justified an exception.

RESETTLEMENT (agenda item 6)

35.       The Committee considered the report on the resettlement of refugees (A/AD.96/275, and the report on the Far Eastern operation (A/AD.96/283).

36.       The representative of the High Commissioner, introducing the subject, recalled that during 1964 ICEM had transported 37,160 refugees of whom 27,967 came within the mandate of UNHCR Highlighting some of the more important recent developments in the field of resettlement, he said that the Swedish Government had recently approved a scheme for the admission, in 1965, of 1,000 refugees who would be selected in Greece, Italy and Turkey in the first instance; the Canadian Government had announced its willingness to consider the admission of certain refugees suffering from tuberculosis, and thirdly, in Australia, a second centre designed to facilitate the reception and assimilation of refugees had just been opened.

37.       He recalled that a language training laboratory in Rome had been purchased with funds from UNHCR. The United States Government had recently announced its willingness to explore the possibility of making a further contribution of $10,000 designed to overcome certain financial difficulties in meeting the operating costs of this important experimental venture. With regard to the Jensen Survey for severely handicapped out of a total of 1,124 refugees covered by the Survey, 892 had been moved to new lands or otherwise settled, leaving 232 refugees still awaiting solutions. One more country, the Netherlands, had been added to the list of those accepting to admit fifteen cases from Germany.

38.       The representative of the High Commissioner mentioned to the Committee the delay which had occurred in the resettlement of a group of Old Believers at present in Hong Kong. Twenty-five of the refugees had now left for Australia and it was hoped that further number would be resettled very shortly in Argentina, Brazil and New Zealand. Apart from the cost of care and maintenance for this group of refugees in Hong Kong, UNHCR would be called upon to provide some $200,000 to assist the World Council of Churches in resettling them in the four countries mentioned. In order to enable UNHCR to meet the immediate financial requirements of care and maintenance in Hong Kong, the High Commissioner submitted the proposal outlined in paragraphs 15 and 16 of document A/AD.96/283.

39.       The Deputy Director of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM), Mr. W.M. Besterman, addressing the Committee, stressed the close co-operation which had further developed between the Office of the High Commissioner and ICEM. At the end of 1964 for the first time, ICEM had had to defer certain refugee movements in view of its financial position. Thanks to a generous response to ICEM's appeal by several governments, in particular Australia, it had been possible to reduce the number of deferred movements. He was pleased to announce that since then the financial difficulties of ICEM had been largely overcome and all the deferred movements had now been carried out. During the first quarter of 1965, enough additional contributions had been received to enable ICEM to plan the resettlement of 39,000 refugees in 1965 instead of the 35,000 originally budgeted. Funds would still have to be found for the movement of an additional 1,300 refugees. He hoped that the further contributions required would be forthcoming in the course of 1965, so that ICEM would be able to keep pace with the demand for the resettlement of refugees.

40.       The High Commissioner said that his Office co-operated with ICEM in a spirit of absolute confidence and he was most gratified that the means had been placed at ICEM's disposal to enable it to continue its task of moving refugees to new lands.

41.       All the representatives who spoke agreed on the importance of the work of ICEM and of resettlement as a solution to the problems of refugees. The representatives of Australia and Canada stated that their governments continued to maintain their interest in the resettlement of refugees and would do everything possible to assist in this vital activity. The representative of Australia recalled that his Government had a traditional interest in the resettlement of European refugees from the Far East and was prepared to consider any further proposals the High Commissioner might make for the resettlement of this group. The representative of the United Kingdom stated that notwithstanding his Government’s difficulties with regard to the admission of immigrants they were prepared to consider certain sponsored cases.

42.       With regard to the group of Old Believers at present in Hong Kong, the representative of Brazil stated that his Government was prepared to give careful consideration to the resettlement in Brazil of some Old Believers at present in Hong Kong.

43.       The representative of Italy stressed the particular importance of the mechanism of resettlement for countries of first asylum like Italy, where there was a continuing influx of new refugees and where the cost of care and maintenance and of medical assistance for these refugees was increasing. He pointed out that his country had allowed some 240 refugees to settle permanently in Italy in 1964. He urged that the present international co-operation in the field of resettlement should be further strengthened particularly in respect of handicapped refugees.

44.       In reply to a question by the representative of Australia as to the extent to which community organizations in host countries could co-operate with UNHCR          in its work of assistance for handicapped refugees, the representative of the High Commissioner gave examples of the work of UNHCR in the field of rehabilitation, the details of which may be found in the summary record of the 113th meeting.

45.       In conclusion, the Chairman drew special attention to paragraph 71 concerning the resettlement of refugees in countries where no selection missions were being sent or maintained by immigration countries.

Decisions of the Committee

46.       The Executive Committee:

(1)   Took note with appreciation of the report on the resettlement of refugees submitted by the High Commissioner in document A/AD.96/275 and of the progress achieved in this field;

(2)   Noted that, while generous resettlement opportunities had been offered to refugees in 1964, there was further need for such opportunities in order to avoid any accumulation of refugees in countries of first asylum;

(3)   Also took note of the problem which the High Commissioner reported in respect of the Far Eastern operation in document A/AD.96/283;

(4)   Expressed the hope that in countries where Governments of immigration countries do not send or maintain selection missions, these Governments consider the possibility of examining the cases of refugees in these countries on the basis of special dossiers-a procedure already successfully adopted by several countries;

(5)   Authorized the High Commissioner, within the financial framework of the Far Eastern operation, to utilize whenever he deems it justified, unspent balances amounting to $409,175 at 31 December 1964, arising from adjustments in existing projects, for the financing of projects of an urgent nature in respect of refugees of European origin in the Far East.

(6)   Noted that, should the funds thus made available within the present financial target of the Far Eastern operation prove insufficient for the completion of that operation as a whole, the High Commissioner would submit new projects to the Committee under the current programme of his Office.

III. Administrative and financial questions

USE OF THE EMERGENCY FUND (agenda item 7)

47.       The Committee considered the note on the use of the Emergency Fund submitted by the High Commissioner in documents A/AD.96/274 and Add.1. The discussion centred on the extent to which the Emergency Fund should be used in the case of urgent needs of refugees.

48.       The representative of the United States pointed out that in the particular case of the Rwandese refugees who were being established in a new centre at Mugera in Burundi, an amount of $40,000 had been allocated in an amount of $130,000, which had been submitted to members of the Committee by mail poll, had been made under the 1965 Programme. He considered that more use should be made of the Emergency Fund, the more so since it had proved possible for a financial reserve of $276,000 to be set aside at the end of 1964.

49.       The High Commissioner explained that whereas the $40,000 allocation had been used to move a certain number of heads of families to Mugera, the subsequent allocation was intended to enable them to settle in Mugera with their families and did not have the same emergency character. Referring to the general question of the need for a financial reserve to be established inter alia from reimbursements of loans in excess of the $500,000 ceiling of the Emergency Fund, the High Commissioner recalled that the Executive Committee at its twelfth session in Rome had noted that he intended to set aside income from repaid loans which was not needed to replenish the Emergency Fund. This was becoming more and more necessary to give him the financial backing required to finance commitments under the current programmes pending the receipt of contributions, particularly in the near future when he would no longer be able to draw on funds from the major aid programmes.

50.       The representative of the United States stated that he did not intend to open for discussion at this time the matter of the need for a financial reserve since this could be dealt with at a later session. In the view of his delegation the Emergency Fund was intended to be used to meet refugee emergencies as they developed. The $500,000 figure was a ceiling and it was not necessary that the Fund remain at that figure. If large-scale emergency situations developed, the High Commissioner could be assured that interested Governments would respond to any appeal which he might find it necessary to make.

Decision of the Committee

51.       The Executive Committee:

Approved the note on the use of the Emergency Fund submitted by the High Commissioner in document A/AC.96/274 and ADD.1 and took note of the background information contained in documents A/AC.96/INF.35 and ADD.1, INF.36 and INF.37.

REPORT OF THE AD HOC SUB-COMMITTEE ON AUDITING QUESTIONS (agenda item 8)

52.       Mr. C.P. Scott, representative of the United Kingdom and Chairman of the ad hoc Sub-committee on Auditing Questions, introduced the report of the sub-committee in document A/AD.96/284. He thought that the work of the sub-committee (Governor E.A. Westerlind, representative of Sweden, Dr. S. Azimi, representative of Iran, and himself) had proved particularly useful in promoting common understanding of various auditing problems between members of the United Nations Board of Auditors and the internal auditors, and the High Commissioner's Office. He expressed the hope that in the future audit objections could be resolved in the course of the audit.

53.       The representatives who spoke commended the sub-committee on its report. The High Commissioner stated that his Office would pay due attention to the recommendation proposed by the Ad Hoc Sub-Committee.

54.       The representative of the Netherlands expressed her satisfaction at the fact that the report of the Ad Hoc Sub-Committee had served a most useful purpose in that it had fully confirmed the propriety of the High Commissioner's financial management.

Decisions of the Committee

55.       The Executive Committee:

(1)   Took note of the general conclusions contained in paragraphs 39-40 of the report;

(2)   Invited the attention of the High Commissioner to the individual conclusions recorded at the end of each section of the report for such action as he may consider appropriate.

REPAYMENT AND DISCOUNTING OF LOANS (agenda item 8)

56.       In the framework of the discussion on auditing questions, the Committee considered a note submitted by the High Commissioner in respect of the transfer of UNHCR loans to the Government of Austria (A/AC.96/289).

57.       The representative of the High Commissioner pointed out that a passing reference to this transfer had already been made in a report previously submitted to the Executive Committee and that its formal approval was now requested in view of the wishes expressed by the United Nations Board of Auditors.

58.       One representative raised the general question of repayment and discounting of loans, and suggested that in the future similar transactions be submitted to the Committee for authorization and that a review of the present situation with regard to outstanding loans and the possibility of their early collection be submitted to the Committee at a future session.

Decisions of the Committee

59.       The Executive Committee:

Having considered the Note on the transfer of UNHCR loans to the Government of Austria, submitted by the High Commissioner in document A/AC.96/289,

(1)   approved the transaction reported in this document;

(2)   requested that, if similar transactions were proposed in the future, they be submitted to the Committee for its authorization;

(3)   further requested the High Commissioner to submit to a future session of the Committee:

(a)   A review of the present situation in regard to outstanding loans, and

(b)   His recommendations concerning the possibilities of early collection of outstanding amounts through appropriate lump sum settlements.

FINANCIAL STATUS OF UNHCR PROJECT FUNDS (agenda item 9)

60        The Executive Committee considered the financial status of UNHCR project funds (A/AC.96/276 and Add.1), the provisional financial statements for 1964 (A/AC.96/279), the question of adjustments and cancellations in UNHCR major aid programmes (A/AC.96/278-chapter II) and the report on investments for the year ended 31 December 1964 (A/AC.96/280).

61.       The representative of the High Commissioner stated that the comprehensive information on the status of project funds included in document A/AC.96/276 had been submitted in accordance with the wish expressed by the Committee at its previous session. He pointed out that the bulk of the amount of over $10,000,000 available on 1 January 1965 was required to meet commitments entered into by UNHCR pursuant to decisions taken by the Committee, and relating to the current and the major aid programmes. The $1,394,987 pertaining to the current programmes for 1963 and 1964 had been reduced to $1,027,450 since the end of 1964. The representative of the High Commissioner reported the year by year breakdown of the amount of $5,885,762 to be spent on projects within the major aid programmes according to the year in which the projects were authorized. He stressed that in many cases the projects would be put into effect as soon as the Governments concerned were able to provide land or in some cases supporting contributions.

62.       The representatives who spoke expressed their satisfaction with the new presentation of the financial situation. Members of the Committee also expressed appreciation for the data submitted in the provisional financial statements in chapter II of the progress report and in the report on investments.

Decisions of the Committee

63.       The Executive Committee decided:

(1)   To take note of the financial status of UNHCR project funds submitted by the High Commissioner in document A/AC.96/276;

(2)   To take note of provisional financial statements for 1964 submitted by the High Commissioner in document A/AC.96/279;

(3)   To approve the report on investments for the year ending 31 December 1964, submitted by the High Commissioner in document A/AC.96/280.

STATUS OF CONTRIBUTIONS (agenda item 10)

64.       The Committee had before it the report on the status of contributions to UNHCR as at 31 December 1964, contained in document A/AC.96/281 and Add.1, as well as a report on income and allocations from the proceeds of the long-playing record "All-Star Festival" and information on the new record "International Piano Festival", submitted in documents A/AC.96/INF.35 and Add.1.

65.       The Deputy High Commissioner, introducing the report on the status of contributions, said that fifty-two Governments had made financial contributions to the UNHCR programme for 1964, compared with 35 in 1963. The support of these Governments together with contributions from private sources had ensured the complete financing of the UNHCR programme for 1964.[3]

66.       The situation with regard to the financing of the last major aid programmes at the end of 1964 was less encouraging, rather more than $400,000 being still required to enable the programme to be fully implemented. However a special contribution recently announced by the Government of Denmark would reduce this gap to some $350,000.

67.       With regard to the 1965 Programme, a total of $2.6 million had been announced by the end of March 1965, leaving a gap of $600,000. The Deputy High Commissioner recalled that a special contribution of $100,000 had been made by the Government of Belgium for assistance to refugees from Rwanda in Burundi since the report on the status of contributions had been issued. Although further contributions were still expected, the total contributions towards the 1965 programme would probably not exceed $3 million as against the original target of $3.2 million. The fact that target had been raised to $3.5 million would further increase the financial difficulties and the High Commissioner would need generous financial support form governments and other sources in order to cover the needs of the Office in 1965.

68.       Turning to the sale of records, the Deputy High Commissioner drew attention to the information submitted to the Committee in documents A/AC.96/INF.35 and Add.1 in respect of allocations made from the proceeds of the sale of "All Star Festival". The first results of the sale of the second record, "International Piano Festival", were most encouraging; some 120,000 copies had been sold in twelve countries so far. Special credit for this success should be given to organization such as the Danish Refugee Council, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and the Swedish United Nations Association. Thanks were also due to the radio, television and the press in countries like Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, which had ensured remarkable sales in those countries. The Deputy High Commissioner also referred to the generous help which had been received from Mr. Ed Sullivan of American television.

69.       The representative of Austria informed the Committee that in spite of the heavy burden borne by his country in caring for the refugees who had sought asylum in Austria, his Government had decided to double in 1965 the contribution made in 1964.

70.       The representative for the United Kingdom recalled that his Government had increased their 1965 contribution by 25 per cent over the 1964 contribution. This did not include the sum of $30,800 which represented the purchase tax on the sale of the record "All star Festival" in the United Kingdom, and which was being transferred to UNHCR as a special contributing to UNHCR in 1965, the representative of the United Kingdom said that while it was encouraging to note that seven Governments were contributing for the first time in 1964, the total number of Governments contributing was still far too small in relation to the total membership of the United Nations.

71.       The representative of Sweden informed the Committee that in order to help the High Commissioner to meet financial commitments, special arrangements had been made for Sweden's contribution to the 1965 Programme to be paid ahead of time.

72.       The Committee also learned with interest from the representative of Denmark that 14,000 copies of the record "International Piano Festival" had so far been sold in his country.

73.       In the course of the session the representative of Israel announced that the record "International Piano Festival" would be exempt from all import duties and purchase tax in Israel. He further enquired if it would be possible for the High Commissioner, when appealing for funds for urgent projects, to give an indication of the materials required to carry out the project. He felt that such information might enable some Governments to make a contribution in kind which might thus enlarge the number of donors.

74.       The Deputy High Commissioner, thanking the representative of Israel for his valuable suggestion, said that the High Commissioner would certainly be able to provide such information. He felt that he should point out, however, that the cost of transporting contributions in kind to the area of operations concerned might in certain cases exceed the local cost of the materials themselves. There was also a risk that delays in delivery might hamper the implementation of urgent projects.

75.       The official financial results of the sale of "International Piano Festival" were not yet known. It was likely, however, that after the launching costs had been met, net proceeds would exceed $100,000.

Decisions of the Committee

76.       The Executive Committee:

Having considered the report submitted by the High Commissioner in documents A/AC.96/281 and ADD.1 and A/AC.96/INF/35 and ADD.1,

(1)   Noted with satisfaction that an increasing number of Governments were contributing to the High Commissioner's current programmes;

(2).  Welcomed the new contributions announced during the session;

(3)   Took note of the reports submitted by the High Commissioner on income and allocations from the proceeds of the long playing record "All Star Festival" and on the launching of the new record "International Piano Festival";

(4)   Expressed the hope that further and more widespread financial support would be forthcoming from as many members as possible of the international community so as to ensure that the present gaps in the financial targets of the 1963 and 1965 Programmes might be filled as soon as possible.

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE FOR 1966 (agenda item 13)

77.       The Executive Committee considered document A/AC.96/287 submitted by the High Commissioner in respect of the 1966 budget estimates of his Office. In introducing the document, the representative of the High Commissioner explained that the budget estimates which were intended for submission to the forthcoming session of the general Assembly would be circulated to members of the Committee as soon as they had been agreed with UN Headquarters. Action by the Committee was required, however, in respect of the grant-in-aid.

78.       The representative of the United Kingdom stated that while he supported the proposal included in paragraph 6 of the document, to the effect that the grant-in-aid be an amount of $150,000, he had hoped that the recommendation included in paragraph 151 (a) of the report on the Committee's twelfth session would have been fully implemented.

79.       The general question of whether administrative costs could be included in allocations for assistance projects was discussed in connexion with the new and revised projects submitted in the frame of the 1965 Programme. The representative of the High Commissioner explained in this connection that the High Commissioner was endeavouring to meet current requirements for the administration of his programmes from the resources within his administrative budget-i.e.,section 20 of the United Nations Budget. The expansion of his activities however had recently required the adjustment or strengthening of a number of branch offices and sub-offices in Africa and Asia which could not be covered from existing resources. The Secretary-General had however made it clear that no requests for supplementary estimates for 1965 could be considered except in the case of "clearly statutory requirements". For this reason, the additional administrative expenditure had had to be included in the new project allocations submitted to the Committee. This was a reversal of the policy adopted in 1959 whereby all administrative costs were included in section 20 of the United Nations Budget.

80.       The representative of the United States, while recognizing that the situation in 1965 was an unusual one, expressed the hope that as from 1966 all administrative expenditure would again be included in the administrative budget. He also hoped that every attention would be paid to the possibility of curtailments of staff in European countries so that some of the posts in other areas might be filled without additional cost.

Decision of the Committee

81.       The Executive Committee:

Having considered the Note submitted by the High Commissioner in respect of administrative expenditure (A/AC.96/287); confirmed the authority which it had given to the High Commissioner in paragraph 151(c) of the report on its twelfth session to pay towards the United Nations administrative budget a grant-in-aid in an amount of $150,000 for 1965.

IV.        Proposed budget for the liquidation of major aid programmes (agenda item 11)

82.       The Committee considered two new projects submitted by the High Commissioner for assistance to refugees in France and Germany within the framework of the major aid programmes (A/AC.96/282).

83.       In introducing the report, the representative of the High commissioner stressed that the size of the problem of the "old" refugees had proved much larger than had been anticipated in the two countries concerned. It was hoped that the necessary funds for the financing of the projects could be obtained from savings in the major aid programmes.

84.       The catalytic effect of the projects was evidenced by the fact that the $250,000 allocation for establishment assistance to refugees in Germany would be matched by a $2 million contribution within that country for the housing of these refugees who would soon be able to leave their sub-standard dwellings. Similarly, in France, an important matching contribution would be forthcoming.

85.       The representative of France gave an account of the needs of refugees in his country, the details of which may be found in the summary record of the 114th meeting. He stressed, in particular, the very high percentage of aged refugees and the high cost of meeting the needs of the handicapped. He pointed out that although prevailing legislation provided that aliens should not receive more favourable treatment than nationals, a matching contribution was being made towards the housing of handicapped refugees assisted under the UNHCR pregrammes.

Decisions of the Committee

86.       The Executive Committee:

Considering that the two new allocations under consideration were the last substantial allocations to be submitted to the Committee within the financial framework of the major aid programmes,

(1)   Approved the two allocations of $250,000 each submitted by the High Commissioner in document A/AC.96/282 for the completion of projects for assistance to "old" European refugees in France and the Federal Republic of Germany;

(2)   Authorized the High Commissioner to continue implementing the major aid projects as a whole to the extent that his financial resources permit and to determine the order of priority of implementation, and;

(3)   Requested the High Commissioner to report regularly to the Committee on the matter.

V.         UNHCR current programmes

A.         UNHCR PROGRAMME FOR 1965 - NEW AND REVISED PROJECTS (agenda item 12(b))

INTRODUCTORY

87.       The Executive Committee considered the new and revised projects submitted to it by the High Commissioner in document A/AC.96/286 and ADD.1-3 in respect of Rwandese refugees in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chinese refugees in Macao, Tibetan refugees in Nepal, Cuban refugees in Spain and refugees from Mozambique in Tanzania. The Committee also considered a revision of the approved allocations for refugees in Senegal and a new allocation for the repatriation of refugees in Africa.

88.       The Chairman stressed the importance of the contents and size of the new projects before the Committee. As in the case of other UNHCR projects for assistance, these projects had been so conceived as to help the refugees to become self-supporting within the shortest possible time. On behalf of the Committee he paid tribute to the countries of reception for the generous manner in which they admitted refugees.

89.       The representative of the High Commissioner pointed out that the new projects totalling over $1 million included two projects for groups of refugees who had not yet benefited from assistance under the UNHCR current programme; the Tibetan refugees in Nepal and those from Mozambique in Tanzania. He stressed that substantial support would again be forthcoming form the Government of the United States and from the World Food Programme through the provision of large quantities of food. Approval of the projects would entail an increase of $300,000 in the 3,200,000 target of the 1965 programme.

ASSISTANCE TO TIBETAN REFUGEES IN NEPAL

90.       The Committee considered projects in and amount of $143,750 including projects for local settlement of refugees at Pokhara Lake, for the consolidation of the settlement of refugees in Kathmandu and for the care of tubercular refugees in Kathmandu. The representatives who spoke expressed their strong support for these projects which, they hoped, would lead to a comprehensive plan for assistance to the refugees concerned.

91.       The representative of the High Commissioner explained in this connexion that assistance had been provided to the refugees from other sources including in particular the Nepalese and United States Governments, the Swiss Government Department for Technical Cooperation and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The main role of UNHCR was to promote such assistance.

92.       The representative of China announced that the Free China relief Association would make a contribution of $5,000 towards the UNHCR programme for Tibetan refugees. The representative of the United States stated that his Government fully supported the UNHCR programme, the more so since United States assistance for the group of refugees concerned was at present not scheduled beyond 1967.

93.       An exchange of views took place on certain technical aspects of the projects before the Committee, the details of which may be found in the summary records of the 115th, 116th, 117th, and 118th meetings.

94.       In reply to a question by the representative of Iran concerning the rather high percentage of administrative expenditure involved in the projects, the representative of the High Commissioner gave further details about the arrangements which the UNHCR representative in Kathmandu had to make in order to promote the implementation of assistance programmes for the Tibetan refugees.

95.       The Committee agreed on the proposed allocations.

CUBAN REFUGEES IN SPAIN

96.       The Committee considered projects in an amount of $146,000 for assistance to the Cuban refugees in Spain. The representative of Venezuela expressed her Government's interest in this problem and informed the Committee that the possibility of financial support for the assistance programme for these refugees was being raised with the competent authorities.

97.       The Committee agreed on the proposed allocation.

REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES IN AFRICA

98.       The Committee agreed on the increase of $10,000 in the fund for repatriation.

RURAL SETTLEMENT OF RWANDESE REFUGEES AT MUGERA IN BURUNIDI

99.       The Committee considered the new allocation submitted by the High Commissioner in an amount of $450,000 towards the installation of some 25,000 Rwandese refugees in a new land settlement at Mugera.

100.     The representative of the High Commissioner gave an eye-witness report on the situation of refugees in Burundi the details of which maybe found in the summary record of the 115th meeting. At the end of 1963 the consolidation of the then existing three settlements was expected in the near future. Since then however there had been an influx of new Rwandese refugees into Burundi as a result of events in Rwanda and the democratic Republic of the Congo. There were, early in 1965, an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 non-settled Rwandese refugees in Burundi. The offer made by the Tanzanian Government for the resettlement of some 10,000 Rwandese refugees in the Mwezi highlands was still open. It was essential however that some 25,000 of the non-settled Rwandese refugees be settled as soon as possible in Burundi. The Technical difficulties involved in organizing their settlement on the land in Mugera could be largely overcome. In view of the size of the project considerable funds would be required. Of the total of $864,800 requested from UNHCR for 1965 an amount of $170,000 had already been made available (i.e., $40,000 from the Emergency Fund and $130,000 approved by mail-poll). Of the remaining amount of $694,800, the High Commissioner did not think that he could ask for more than $450,000 and he hoped that the remaining gap of approximately $245,000 might be bridged through special contributions or possibly bilateral aid. The very generous participation of the World Food Programme in the proposed project would be a great help.

101.     The observer for Burundi gave an account of the situation of refugees in his country and of the measures of assistance taken or to be taken for them. He stated that his Government had now acceded to the 1951 Convention. To apply the Convention, in accordance with Recommendation E of its final act, to a large number of refugees who were not covered by this legal instrument on account of the 1951 dateline, would raise serious practical difficulties at the present time. His Government, however, would continue to apply the fundamental principles of the Convention relating to the right of asylum and to the non-return of refugees to their country of origin.

102.     There were three categories of refugees in his country: the Rwandese refugees who had been there for some time; the new Rwandese refugees and the refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With the assistance given through the international organizations and the voluntary agencies, some 26,000 refugees in the first group had been able to start a new life. They were benefiting to a large extent form the ILO Zonal Development Plan in which the local branch of a non-profit making organization, the Association internationale pour le développement rural outre-mer (AIDR), as well as the refugees themselves, were taking an active part. Most of the 35,000 new Rwandese refugees had arrived in 1963 and 1964 with some 3,700 head of cattle and had been assembled in provisional centres in the highly populated border area, form which they would have to be removed. The main solution which could be immediately put into effect was their settlement on the land in another part of Burundi. Notwithstanding the difficulty arising from the exceptional density of the Burundi population a settlement plan had been worked out to provide a lasting solution for some 25,000 refugees. The total cost of this long-term plan exceeded the financial resources of the Burundi Government which would, nevertheless, provide 4 million Burundi francs, as well as arable land, equipment and medical assistance. The implementation of the plan would be entrusted to a semi-governmental humanitarian organization, the Fonds Roi Mambutsa IV, which had already started its activities in the new settlement area.

103.     The original number of 30,000 Congolese refugees had decreased to 20.000 as a result of voluntary repatriation towards which the Government of the democratic Republic of the Congo had contributed 3 million Congolese francs. Most of the remaining refugees were living in very precarious conditions and the main problem was to provide them with enough food. Assistance had been organized for them by the Reverend Father Ibarra with support form various voluntary agencies. The available resources were nearly exhausted and the Government of Burundi was appealing for further assistance to these refugees.

104.     All told, the observer of Burundi concluded, his Government had to deal with the problem of some 75,000 to 80,000 refugees.

105.     The committee then heard a statement by the observer of the World Food Programme who explained that the provision of $300,000 worth of food to meet immediate needs had already been approved by WDP. Under the agreement which was being concluded by the World Food Programme with the Burundi Government, food in a value of over $800,000 was to be provided by WFP. The speaker gave the Committee details the composition of the 2,300-calory rations that were to be issued for a period of twelve months in addition to the three months' emergency food. He stressed that in all development projects the WFP required an assurance that the necessary funds for all the "non-food" costs (including transportation, delivery, distribution, clearing of roads, vaccination, etc.), would be available from other sources since WFP could only pay for the cost of the food itself.

106.     On the essential question of the provision of food, the representative of the United States recalled that his Government had been operating a food programme in Burundi in co-operation with the FAO for some time. It would do everything possible to provide whatever food might be available at short notice to meet the needs of the refugees, pending the delivery of food by WFP. Consequently he hoped that the amount of $328,120 included in the $1,426,000 programme, as the ceiling of the UNHCR contribution towards the purchase of food, would be substantially reduced. The representative of the High Commissioner explained that the extent to which food would have to be purchased locally, pending the delivery of WFP food supplies which were scheduled to arrive in September, would depend on the rate of transfer of refugees to Mugera, on the possibility of food being borrowed from supplies available locally and on the date of arrival of WFP shipments, UNHCR participation in the purchase of food would be as limited as would be practically possible. The High Commissioner proposed that if the project was approved his Office would defray the cost of internal transportation of food while the cost of local distribution would be assumed by the Burundi Government.

107.     The representative of the United Kingdom stressed that careful planning would be required in view of the size of the problem. Since it might take up to three years to carry out the programme, much would depend on the willingness of the refugees to plan that far ahead. It would not be easy for them to settle, particularly in view of the risk inherent in the proximity of the tsetse fly belt. He pointed out that in view of the many imponderables a contingency reserve of 3 percent of the total cost seemed modest. No doubt consideration would be given to its adequacy for 1966. From his experience he thought that 5 percent would be a safer margin to allow. However, the Emergency Fund did provide a certain standing cover in case of need.

108.     An exchange of views also took place on the technical aspects of the settlement programme and on the estimates submitted in respect of food rations, vehicles, roads, water distribution, medical assistance and education, the details of which may be found in the summary records of the 115th, 116th and 117th meetings.

109.     The representative of the International Labour Organisation gave further information concerning the implementation of the ILO Plan for Zonal Development and Integration in Burundi. He noted, in particular, that the Burundi Government had decided to contribute 4 million Burundi francs for local administrative expenditure, transportation and other expenditure during 1965 and 1966.

110.     In the course of the session, the representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization stated that his organization recognized that the settlement of refugees could become a basic factor of development in their country of refuge, provided that the settlement programmes were integrated in that country's economic and social development. The FAO'S main concern was the Burundi project, but it would assist in Tanzania if requested to do so. The Burundi project was complex, and called for constant re-examination and adjustment. A meeting of officials working on the Burundi project would shortly be held. The FAO considered that a sociologist was needed for the Burundi development project already under implementation and for the Mugera project. A soil expert would be needed for at least one year.

111.     During the first phase when food was provided under the World Food Programme the refugees should receive a sex to eight months' agricultural training course, and measures should be taken for the allocation of land and the classification and assignment of settlers. It would be necessary thereafter to help the refugees to become self-supporting and settled as soon as possible and for this purpose three experts would need to be appointed. Arrangements with the United Nations Technical Assistance Board as well as bilateral programmes would be most helpful in achieving this objective. World food Programme support would be required until the settlers became economically independent.

112.     In the course of the discussion the representative of Sweden enquired into the plight of the refugees from the Democratic republic of the Congo. He considered that this was a case where assistance might be give from the Emergency Fund and asked to what extent assistance had been provided by UNHCR. The representative of the High Commissioner stated that, in 1964, $20,000 had been provided for assistance to these refugees in Uganda and in 1965, $21,715 including $16,000 for assistance to these refugees in central Africa, and $5,715 to those in Burundi. The High Commissioner would consider the possibility of providing further assistance.

113.     The Committee agreed on the proposed allocation of $450,000.

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

114.     The Committee considered the allocation submitted by the High Commissioner in an amount of $34,500 for administrative expenditure in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

115.     The representative of the High Commissioner stated that, pending the envisaged cancellation of the expulsion and sequestration decrees by the Central Government, UNHCR was facing the tasks of keeping in close touch with the local authorities in the interests of the refugees, of arranging for the transfer by air of several hundred of these refugees to Tanzania, which might be resumed very shortly, and of following up on the ILO project.

116.     The Committee noted from a statement by the representative of the ILO that there had been a gradual expansion of the holding operation carried out under the zonal development project in the Kivu provinces with a view to a full resumption of activities during the second half of 1965. He further indicated that this would depend on the decision that might be taken concerning the order of expulsion affecting Rwandese refugees and on security conditions in the areas concerned. He informed the Committee that the Central Government had stated that it was prepared in principle to allocate 15 million Congolese francs from counterpart funds for the Kivu Province, within the framework of a comprehensive ILO plan for rural development in the Congo.

117.     The Committee agreed on the proposed allocation.

CHINESE REFUGEES IN MACAO

118.     The representative of the High Commissioner stressed that a great deal of work was being done in Macao by the local authorities and voluntary agencies; the projects submitted to the Committee reflected the catalytic role of the UNHCR programme.

119.     The Committee agreed on the proposed allocation.

RURAL SETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES IN CASAMANCE, SENEGAL

120.     The Committee considered a proposal of the High Commissioner for the revision of the allocation within the 1964/65 UNHCR appropriation of $278,100 for assistance to refugees in Senegal which, however, would not affect the actual amount of the UNHCR contribution for 1965 ($111,100).

121.     The representative of the High Commissioner stated that, in addition to the 35,000 refugees already in the country, 10,000 had arrived in Senegal since the beginning of March. UNHCR financial participation constituted only a portion of the over-all 1964/65 Programme which amounted to $1.5 million. Two-thirds was provided by the United States Government in the form of food.

122.     The observer for Senegal outlined the difficulties his Government was facing in dealing with the increasing influx of refugees whom it was necessary to remove from the overcrowded frontier areas. If the influx continued and the Senegal Government was to deal effectively with the problem, further assistance would be required.

123.     The representative of France also suggested that this was the kind of problem where the High Commissioner might have to draw on his Emergency Fund.

124.     The Committee agreed on the revision of the allocations proposed by the High Commissioner.

RURAL SETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES FROM MOZAMBIQUE AT RUTAMBA IN TANZANIA

125.     The Committee considered the proposals submitted by the High Commissioner for the rural settlement of refugees from Mozambique at Rutamba, which included an allocation of $250,000 under the 1965 programme and an allocation of $162,300 under the first phase of the 1966 Programme.

126.     The representative of the High Commissioner outlined the measures already taken by the Tanzania Government in order to assist the refugees from Mozambique, whose influx into Southern Tanzania since October 1964 had brought their numbers to approximately 10,000. He also outlined the requirements of the proposed programme.

127.     He stated that the High Commissioner welcomed the proposal made by the Tanzanian Government that the actual implementation of the Rutamba settlement project be entrusted to the Lutheran World Federation/Tanganyika Christian Refugee service which was already carrying out the Mwesi settlement project for Rwandese refugees.

128.     The Chairman expressed the sympathy of the Committee to the next-of-kin of Mr.Norredam of Denmark, Project Supervisor of the Lutheran World Federation-TCRS at Mwesi, who had recently been killed in an aircraft accident.

129.     The representative of Tanzania described the measures his Government had taken to deal with the problem of refugees form Mozambique, 10,000 of whom were now accommodated at Rutamba. These measures, as well as those taken by various voluntary agencies and by the world Food Programme and UNHCR, were of an emergency relief nature. The project submitted to the Committee was to provide for the permanent settlement of some 10,000 refugees on the land.

130.     The refugees had been moved to Rutamba of their own free will and were being installed with the full co-operation of the local population. National servicemen, health staff and community development as well as agricultural experts, had gone there to help. Considerable funds and staff had thus had to be diverted from the Government's own Five-year-plan. Each family would at first be given one acre of land which could later be increased. If the project was approved the Tanzanian Government would make a further matching contribution of £15,000 to the UNHCR programme for 1965.

131.     An exchange of views took place on the technical aspects of the projects, the details of which may be found in the summary records of the 116th and 117th meetings. Asked if the initial clearance of one acre of land would be sufficient, the representative of Tanzania said that this first acre would enable the refugees to grow their own food. Once they had become self-supporting a second and third acre could be cleared of thick bush as and when funds became available. With regard to the question of medical assistance he stated that his Government planned to take over the health services after three years. In reply to a question regarding the interruption of emergency food supplies the representative of the High Commissioner explained that it had been due to strikes in overseas ports. The gap however had been bridged with the help of voluntary agencies. With regard to the question of administrative costs he explained the difficulties of UNHCR in a country the size of Tanzania, and emphasized that these costs were related to three distinct programmes in different parts of the country.

132.     The representative of Sweden recalled that pending the establishment of an effective United Nations programme for the education of refugees in Africa, Sweden had launched a special programme in the order of $200,000 for the education of refugees in the southern parts of Africa, including refugees from Mozambique. Funds for the current financial year had already been spent or committed. He understood that the High Commissioner did not consider the financing of education to be a prime responsibility of his Office. He thought however that education should form an essential part of the over-all project before the Committee and assured the Committee that careful consideration would be given by his Government to any request for educational aid to the refugees form Mozambique in Rutamba.

133.     In expressing his appreciation to the representative of Sweden for the suggestion he had made, the High Commissioner stressed the importance he attached to the education of refugees, which was included in the over-all programme before the Committee in the expectation that special funds would be made available. Tanzania was aiming at the establishment of a system of universal education and he thought that any education assistance to the refugees should be so conceived that it would fit into the general plans of the Tanzanian Government.

134.     The Committee agreed to the proposed 1965 allocation for the rural settlement of refugees from Mozambique at Rutamba and agreed in principle to the proposed allocation of $162,300 for the first phase of the 1966 programme.

135.     The Chairman summed up the decisions adopted by the Committee and referred to in various parts of documents A/AC.96/286, and ADD.1-3.

Decisions of the Committee in respect of the proposals considered under section V.A

136.     The Executive Committee:

Having considered the new and revised projects and the Allocations presented to it for approval in documents A/AC.96/286 and ADD.1-3:

(1)   Took note of the information and proposals submitted to it by the High Commissioner in these documents;

(2)   Noted the approval of an allocation of $130,000 towards the implementation of a project for the settlement of Rwandese refugees at Mugera in Burundi, referred to in paragraph 9 of document A/AC.96/286;

(3)   Approved the new allocations proposed in a total amount of $1,065,250 as broken down in the annex to document A/AC.96/286/Add.3, subject to the availability of funds;

(4)   Approved the revised projects for assistance to refugees in Senegal and authorized the High Commissioner to continue the implementation of the rural settlement programme in Senegal within the allocations already approved by the Executive Committee;

(5)   Agreed in principle to the High Commissioner contributing in 1966 a further sum of $162,300 towards the second part of the 1965/66 phase of the rural settlement of refugees from Mozambique at Rutamba, in Tanzania, subject to the position in respect of the 1966 Programme being reviewed at its fourteenth session on the basis of a report to be submitted by the High Commissioner;

(6)   Noted that the approved allocations under the 1965 Programme exceeded by $387.870 the financial target of $3,200,000 approved by the Committee at its twelfth session;

(7)   Considering that the High Commissioner might be able to make some savings in these allocations;

(8)   Approved a revised financial target for the 1965 Programme in an amount of $3,500,000;

(9)   Authorized the High Commissioner to transfer funds between projects approved under the 1965 Programme, as far as necessary and within reasonable limits, subject to such transfers being reported as soon as possible thereafter to the Committee.

B.        UNHCR PROGRAMME FOR 1964 - PROJECTS NOT FINANCED AS AT 31 DECEMBER 1964 (agenda item 12(a))

137.     The Committee considered the note submitted by the High Commissioner in respect of projects amounting to $159,000 in the Central African Republic, in Macao and in Senegal which had not been financed as at 31 December 1964.

138.     The representative of the High Commissioner stated that in the meantime the necessary funds had become available to put the projects into effect.

139.     The representative of France asked what action had been taken by UNHCR in response to the appeal of the Central African Republic for assistance to refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo on its territory. The representative of the High Commissioner explained that the necessary funds were expected to be forthcoming from other sources.

140.     In reply to a question by the representative of Iran as to whether the amount of $159,000 would suffice to complete the projects envisaged for the refugees concerned, the representative of the High Commissioner explained that in this case also UNHCR participation constituted only one element of the total effort that was being made to assist the refugees.

Decision of the Committee

141.     The Executive Committee:

Took note of the fact that the projects in an amount of $159,000, submitted by the High Commissioner in document A/AC.96/288, and forming part of the 1964 Programme, were expected by the High Commissioner to be put into effect and financed in 1965 from further income adjustments under the 1964 Programme which were expected to cover this amount.

C.        ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES IN UGANDA

142.     The observer for Uganda gave an account of the refugee problems which his Government had to face and referred in particular to that of the refugees from the Congo which had arisen in the second half of 1964. His Government firmly believed in the principle of voluntary repatriation but for the present the refugees seemed unlikely to return to their own country. As the presence of a large number of refugees in the border areas presented a serious security problem a group of 8,000 had had to be moved inland. Shelter had been found for some of them but assistance was urgently needed to provide them with basic necessities. He urged the Committee to give serious attention to the situation of over 2,500 Congolese refugees in Labwor camp in the county of Karamoja where they were living in most precarious conditions. As there were already some 30,000 Congolese refugees in the border area which was threatened by food shortage, his Government hoped to be able to move them to Labwor camp as soon as essential facilities could be made available. He added that Uganda had been compelled to spend over E. A. £300,000 in assistance to refugees in 1964.

143.     With regard to the UNHCR programme for other refugees in Uganda, attention had been directed in the past year to the planting of food crops to make the refugees self-supporting. The next phase would be the consolidation of the refugee settlements, for which there were already detailed plans which included the settlement of 7,000 Sudanese in Ajago, the absorption of Sudanese students into Uganda schools and similar measures for Rwandese refugees.

144.     His Government attached great importance to the visit to Uganda of the Refugee Commission of the OAU and to the consolidation of refugee settlements under integration and zonal development plans of the International Labour Organisation.

145.     Thanking the observer for Uganda, the Chairman said he was glad to note the statement in which the observer had affirmed that the repatriation of refugees should be voluntary.

146.     The representative of the ILO informed the Committee that the scope of the request to establish plans for zonal integration and development addressed to the ILO by the Uganda Government had been widened to include zonal development in the northern region where Sudanese refugees had been settled. The question would be considered shortly in the ACC working group on community and rural development and the High Commissioner would, of course, be consulted in the matter.

D.        GENERAL STATEMENTS ON THE PRINCIPLES GOVERNING ASSISTANCE UNDER THE CURRENT PROGRAMME, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NEW PROJECTS IN AFRICA

147.     In the course of the session and after consideration of the new and revised projects, general statements were made concerning the general principles which should underlie the work of assistance of UNHCR under its current programme, particularly in the case of the large-scale problems of refugees which had recently emerged in Africa. The common view was that the plight of the refugees concerned deserved every sympathy and all the help that could be enlisted. It had always been agreed that the primary responsibility for assistance to refugees lay with the Governments of the host country. The Governments concerned had fully assumed this responsibility and had acted in a true spirit of international solidarity. Some of the problems facing UNHCR were of considerable magnitude and so also were the programmes which had been drawn up with a view to their solution. They had been approached with practical sense, boldness and yet prudence by the High Commissioner, in his role of catalyst and co-ordinator in accordance with his good offices’ function. The proposals for 1965 were fully supported. They entailed an increase in the financial target for 1965 which the High Commissioner considered to be realistic. The over-all programmes described in documents before the Committee would extend beyond the current year ad two of them covered a period of at least three years. It was clear however that the Committee could not commit itself beyond the current year and that it would consider the allocations proposed in respect of subsequent years in due course. It was essential for the High Commissioner to be assured for these subsequent years of the valuable support which he was already receiving from members of the UN family, including in particular ILO, FAO, TAB and the World Food Programme, and also of the invaluable co-operation of the voluntary agencies which act as the operating arm of UNHCR and ensure day-to-day contact with individual refugees.

148.     The representative of Australia said that at its autumn session, when the results of the progress achieved under the 1965 Programme would be known, the Committee would be in a better position to appreciate the situation likely to face UNHCR in the following year.

149.     With regard to the information provided to the Committee, his delegation particularly appreciated the eye-witness reports which had been presented in the course of the session and which included precisely the type of facts and information of which the Committee should be aware before reaching a decision.

150.     The representative of France said that the refugee problems in Africa concerned entire groups. Their problems needed not only emergency relief but comprehensive economic assistance, including the establishment of an infrastructure in the areas concerned. Responsibility for this clearly lay with the host countries. While the High Commissioner should lend his good offices to assist the refugees, the Government of the host countries should be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the master plan.

151.     As was apparent from the programme before the Committee, the High Commissioner had only limited resources at his disposal in relation to the size of the problems. Specialized agencies had been established on the other hand to deal with world problems in the field of health, food and agriculture. The French delegation felt that it was for the Government of the country of reception to request the agencies to put programmes into effect in the area of settlement of the refugees so that the latter could benefit from them. He understood that the role of the High Commissioner was to act as a catalyst and to co-ordinate the activities carried out in favour of the refugees. After one year's experience this might be the moment for the High Commissioner to speak about the criteria which were determining his participation in the assistance programmes concerned. The French delegation wished to pay a tribute to the humanitarian and non-political approach which the High Commissioner was successfully following in carrying out his task.

152.     The High Commissioner [4] endorsed the principles enunciated in the course of the discussion. He emphasized in particular the principle of primary responsibility of the host country and that of national sovereignty whereby action should be taken in agreement with the Government concerned.

153.     He also pointed out that the UNHCR current programme constituted only a fraction of the over-all measures of assistance to refugees, and that the role of his Office was to co-ordinate these measures and to act as an intermediary of good-will, enlisting the necessary support from other sources. His Office had only moral authority and its stimulating action depended on the complex mechanism of assistance in which Governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations played an increasingly effective role. His pragmatic approach was illustrated by the current programme carried out in 1964.

154.     The action of his Office was limited both in scope and time. Measures of assistance had to be so conceived as to lead to a lasting solution of the problems. In practical terms, this meant that refugees should be assisted to become self-supporting as rapidly as possible. One of the main operational partners of UNHCR, the League of Red Cross Societies, now also tended to adopt this approach more and more.

155.     In carrying out this policy, it was important that initial action by UNHCR should be conceived in the framework of a long-term programme at a certain stage of which UNHCR should cease to take part. This was the reason why the first year programmes in respect of assistance to Rwandese refugees in Burundi and the refugees from Mozambique in Tanzania had been submitted in the framework of programmes for the subsequent years, at the end of which the problems should be regarded as solved, as far as UNHCR was concerned. Regional development was not the responsibility of UNHCR and its limited participation in the present ILO projects in this field were intended as a last step towards the integration of the refugees within the local community. In conclusion he stated that his Office was acting in accordance with the guidance given to him by the Executive Committee and within the framework of the support he was able to receive.

156.     In endorsing the general principles outlined by previous speakers, the representative of the United Kingdom expressed the satisfaction of his delegation at the fact that the support of a considerable number of other organizations, both intergovernmental and private, had been enlisted by the High Commissioner to assist him in his task and emphasized the need for their continued support until the successful completion of the programmes before the Committee.

157.     The observer of the Organization of African Unity [5] described the refugee problems which had emerged in Africa. He also referred to the establishment of a refugee commission within the framework of the OAU, and described the action taken by this commission up to the present time. A refugee bureau had been created within the Secretariat in order to maintain close relations with UNHCR; it had also been decided to establish an African refugee fund and to draw up an African refugee convention based on the principles of the Refugee Convention of 1951. He also mentioned various guiding principles in the field of refugees accepted by the Council of Ministers of the OAU in 1964 and the resolution adopted by the Council in March 1965 inviting the Secretariat, inter alia, to follow the development of the refugee situation in close co-operation with the competent commissions of the OAU and the United Nations. The observer also stressed the importance of close co-operation between the OAR and UNHCR.

158.     The High Commissioner emphasized the importance of contacts between his Office and the OAU as well as other regional organizations such as the Council of Europe. Co-operation with the OAU would further increase the understanding of the refugee problem in Africa, and would facilitate the co-ordination of assistance to refugee by UNHCR and by the host countries. This co-ordination was particularly important in legal matters, and the High Commissioner welcomed the statement by the OAU observer that action in this field would be based on the principles of the 1951 Convention. This approach was also in keeping with the views expressed at the recent Colloquium on legal aspects of refugee problems to the effect that regional measures in favour of refugees should be in harmony with, and supplement, assistance measures of a more universal character. The humanitarian work of UNHCR in Africa would also be strengthened through the furthering of two important aspects of the principle of asylum: that, as mentioned by the observer for Uganda, the grant of asylum should not be considered as an unfriendly act by other States, and that the country giving asylum to refugees should seek to ensure that they settle down peacefully.

159.     The representatives of Algeria and Yugoslavia expressed the satisfaction of their delegations at representation of OAU in the session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's programme. The representative of Yugoslavia emphasized the importance of close co-operation between the High Commissioner's office and OAU and expressed the conviction of his delegation that the executive committee would consider the proposals made by the representative of the OAR.

160.     The representative of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs expressed appreciation for the work being done by the High Commissioner to help refugees in Africa. The World Council of Churches had already sent two missions to Africa, and in consultation with local churches had worked out an emergency programme with a target, over a period of five years, of $10 million, 25 per cent of which was to be set aside for refugees. The World Council of Churches shared the view that the new dynamics of the refugee problem was in Africa, but help should not be given at the expense of commitments in Europe where the problem was increasing in tragedy as it diminished in size.

VI.        Relations with specialized agencies and other intergovernmental organizations - amendments to the rules of procedure (agenda item 14)

Decision of the Committee

161.     The Committee decided to defer consideration of this item until the fourteenth session.

VII.       Other questions (agenda item 15)

SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS TO THE COMMITTEE

162.     In the course of the session, the representative of Australia stated that the task of his delegation would be facilitated if documents could be sent to his Government as early as possible before the Committee's sessions.

163.     An exchange of views also took place between the representative of Australia and the High Commissioner, on the possible expansion of the information included in document A/AC.96/276 and on summarized data being presented to the Committee, the details of which may be found in the summary record of the 114th meeting.

164.     In reply to a question of the representative of Australia concerning the issue of a compendium of decisions of the Executive Committee, together, with other basic documents pertaining to the work of UNHCR, the Secretary of the Committee said that the compendium would be published if possible, together with the other basic documents of UNHCR, as suggested.

APPROVAL OF PROJECTS BY MAIL-POLL

165.     The representative of Iran explained the reasons why his delegation preferred to consider projects for approval during a session of the Committee rather than by mail-poll in between sessions, as had been the case with the $130,000 allocation for the settlement of refugees at Mugera. He asked the High Commissioner to avoid this method as far as possible in the future. The High Commissioner explained the Exceptional circumstances which had made this procedure necessary. He added that he would only resort to this procedure in urgent cases.

LANGUAGE TRAINING FOR REFUGEES

166.     In reply to a question by the representative of the United States, the High Commissioner stated that the question of language training for refugees had received particular attention from his Office, together with ICEM and USEP. UNHCR had contributed $20,000 towards this type of assistance to refugees in Italy. Once the needs in this field and the possibility of financing had been assessed, he would explore how the various organizations dealing with refugees could contribute towards a comprehensive programme of language training of refugees.

APPENDIX I Opening statement by the High Commissioner

At the opening of this thirteenth session of the Executive Committee, I should like as usual, Mr. Chairman, to give a brief account of the present position with special reference to the sector of UNHCR's activities which arises out of its social function this being viewed as a separate function, though one closely associated with protection, its other essential function.

I shall begin by saying a few words about an activity which is now only a steadily diminishing adjunct to assistance activities as a whole, namely, the residue of the last major aid programmes for "old" refugees. The progress report, prepared this year as usual, shows the advances made in this sector and also the difficulties facing us. In Greece and at Hong Kong, for example, the solution of the problems which we are tackling will be considerably delayed. We have encountered legal and practical difficulties in Greece, which have already been partially overcome and which we are attempting to dispose of one after another. At Hong Kong, the rate at which refugees arrive from mainland China is, as you know, not under our control. The resettlement of those who have succeeded in leaving China and are now at Hong Kong has slowed down sharply in recent months for a variety of reasons. Thus we have had to bear, for an abnormally long period, the cost of maintaining at Hong Kong a group of some 300 refugees belonging to the set known as "Old Believers". The steps taken, in liaison with ICEM and the voluntary agencies, to overcome the obstacles holding up resettlement will, I hope, shortly result in a rapid improvement in this situation. Before passing on to current assistance activities, I feel I should point out that a sum of $350,000 is still needed to cover all the projects approved by the Executive Committee under its old programmes. I continue to hope that specific contributions will be forthcoming to meet the residual deficit, so that we can finally close a chapter in our work which should shortly become past history.

It will be remember that financial target for the 1964 current programme was approximately $3 million. As will be seen from document A/AC.96/277/Add.1, almost the whole of that sum had been disbursed or committed, in so far as it was actually available, by the end of the year. The part which had not been disbursed related to a number of projects whose implementation has been postponed or which have been the subject of readjustments. These are primarily projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and projects for Cuban refugees in Spain the implementation of which was in any case to be spread over a period ending in mid-1963. With these few exceptions, by 31 March of this year, all allocations had been disbursed or cancelled. Thus a practice has been established which is in all respects in keeping with the aims and character of the current assistance programme.

Over and above this programme, funds amounting to $1.2 million were committed for operations outside the programme in order to increase its effectiveness in various ways. If we add to this the sum of more than $5.5 million representing the supporting contributions which could be evaluated and which do not include the sometimes substantial bilateral and obtained from certain countries like the United State, it will be seen how far our constant references to the essentially complementary nature of the current assistance programme are borne out by the facts.

So much for the past. What is the position with respect to the assistance programme for the current year? Though their importance should not be exaggerated, some reference must nevertheless be made to the difficulties inherent in the extreme fluidity of the main problems confronting us, more particularly in Africa. The diversity of these problems and their tendency to spread is already putting the services of the Office to a severe test, since it is being called upon more and more frequently to assist Governments in dealing urgently with situations which cannot but cause them serious concern and which they are anxious to bring to an end before they get more or less out of control. But when each problem is considered individually, it also becomes clear that the basic facts sometimes change in such a way as to call for the revision of all or part of the plans already drawn up or for the alteration of at least some of the projects previously worked out or contemplated. There are many examples of this. I will mention in particular the refugees from Rwanda in the Congo and Burundi and some groups of refugees in Uganda. It is not, therefore, surprising that the office has some difficulty in making forecasts on which firm programmes, requiring only occasional minor adjustments, can be based, as was usually the case with the "old" refugee problems in Europe.

Quite apart from the changes occurring in the situation of existing groups of refugees, change which frequently merely mirror surrounding political developments and which affect the nature and choice of the solutions to be adopted in resolving the problems which arise, We are now often faced with a perceptible worsening of these problems, which are unquestionably tending to increase in magnitude. These are the background facts which should be borne in mind in considering the projects which are now being submitted to the Executive Committee, and which, we regret, do not always meet the time limits we are normally allowed.

It is this development, too, which forces us to request the Committee to raise the target for the 1965 Programme, which we propose should be increased from $3.2 to $3.5 million. It is, of course, only after deep reflection and a careful study of the new situations that we have decided to make this request to the Committee. A senior member of my staff recently visited the areas concerned in order to review once again, together with the Governments and all the authorities concerned, all the facts relating to these problems and the possible practical solutions. It is the result of this review, which was carried out only a few weeks ago, which is now being submitted to the Committee.

In the proposals we have made to the Committee, we have taken into account, after consultation with my local representatives, both existing needs and the prospects for the effective implementation during this year, by the Governments concerned, of a certain proportion of the over-all programmes submitted. As the final factor, we have also considered the financial resources on which we felt we ourselves could reasonably count. I do not think that it is realistic, Mr. Chairman, to commit ourselves vis-à-vis these Governments to carrying out a programme which is too ambitious for the resources we believe we can normally command. Although we recognize that the effort thus called for from Governments prepared to support. UNHCR's humanitarian work covers only a part of the known and assessed needs, it seemed to us preferable to confine ourselves for the time being to the indispensable minimum which, in our view, is represented by the projects submitted to the Committee, relying on complementary action, particularly bilateral action, to fill any gaps, which we will, of course, attempt to cover ourselves, if the need should arise.

At this time, Mr. Chairman, when I am compelled to appeal to the generosity of Governments to provide the Office with the additional $300,000 needed to deal with the extension of certain refugee problems in Africa, and to cover the existing deficit of $600,000 in the budget of the 1965 Programme, it is comforting to note that the number of Governments contributing to our assistance programme has shown a spectacular increase during the past twelve months or so. Nineteen Governments, twelve in 1964 and seven in 1965, have now for the first time expressed their willingness to participate in this work of international solidarity. I need hardly say that we find this a great encouragement to continue our efforts to persuade other Governments to become participants. Although this progress is undoubtedly largely due to the geographical extension of the refugee problem, and consequently, of the work of the High Commissioner's Office, it also reflects, I hope, a wider understanding of these problems on the part of the international community, and a recognition, which might now be described as unanimous, of the purely humanitarian aspects of our work. The fact cannot, however, be overlooked that these new contributions, being in many cases necessarily of a token character, are unfortunately not enough to relieve the High Commissioner’s Office of all concern regarding the financing of the programme. That will obviously require a further effort on the part of those countries which are in a position to make a substantial contribution, and I cannot too strongly urge the Governments concerned to give immediate consideration to this problem, upon whose solution depends the ability of this Office to meet its most pressing commitments.

It is hardly necessary to remind the Committee that the sole purpose of the work of the Office is to give refugees an opportunity of regaining living conditions adapted to their needs and to the circumstances, while encouraging the Governments of countries of reception to maintain a liberal attitude towards those seeking asylum. I must at this point draw attention to the generous and understanding attitude shown by the African countries as a whole, despite difficulties of all kinds. I have no doubt that they are firmly resolved to continue honouring the sacred principle of asylum. It is nonetheless certain that by helping them to deal with problems which are often out of all proportion to their resources and means of action, the international community will spare them from the tragic decisions which might be forced upon them by certain situations resulting from the large-scale influx of refugees, situations which might well become desperate if remedial action were too long delayed.

And it is here, Mr. Chairman, that assistance once again is merged with protection, and these two functions of the High Commissioner’s Office complement and support each other, as a pillar supports an arch. For if, in brief statements of this kind, protection does not always receive such full attention as assistance programmes, that is certainly not because it is less important or in any sense less topical. The fact that the needs are often less obvious and palpable, and the results in that field less tangible than in the field of assistance, of course, in no way detracts from the importance of the High Commissioner's constant efforts to improve the statute, to consolidate advantages already won and to combat all infringements of the rights of refugees as recognized by the Convention. In that connexion, I am happy to be able to inform the Committee that two more countries, Liberia and Peru, have recently acceded to the convention of 28 July 1951, thereby bringing up to forty-seven the number of States which have acceded to it.

With reference to that Convention, I should also like to refer briefly to the hope expressed here by some delegations which, anxious to see its benefits extended to new refugees meeting the general requirements, raised the question of the date-line of 1 January 1951. At our suggestion, and thanks to the financial assistance generously provided by the Swiss Governments, the Carnegie Endowment arranged a colloquium at Bellagio last month, attended by a group of experts and jurists of wide experience and international reputation. After giving particular consideration to this question of the date-line, the colloquium submitted a report, the text of which will be circulated to members of the committee at this session. There can be no doubt that this was an event of great significance and one which is likely to lead to valuable developments in the future. I hope to have an opportunity to return to the question at the Committee's next session, and possibly to make some suggestions with a view to taking full advantage of the thorough study made in this connexion.

I cannot leave this matter of protection without saying a word about the approaches which we made last summer to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a view to persuading it to repeal the measures for expulsion and sequestration taken in respect of the refugees from Rwanda who had been given asylum in that country. We obtained first assurances that those measures would not be put into effect, and the Central Government has now in principle acceded to our request and we hope that a decree rescinding both these measures will shortly be signed.

I think, Mr. Chairman, that the Committee will also be interested to hear that, at the request of the Governments of several Central African countries, we have taken up the question of the future of the Congolese who took refuge in those countries after the events which occurred in certain regions of the Congo. At my request, the International Committee of the Red Cross asked one of its representatives in that area to make an inquiry on the spot, and his conclusions are now being studied. The purpose of all our efforts is, of course, to make it possible for all those wishing to return to their country to do so as soon as circumstances permit. With regard to those refugees who are unable or unwilling, for reasons other than personal convenience, to be repatriated, the time will certainly come when we shall have to concern ourselves with their establishment or resettlement. The important thing, for the moment, if to ensure that both categories of refugees can survive and obtain appropriate assistance if necessary. Limited amounts have already been drawn for this purpose from the Emergency Fund, when urgent needs arose.

These, Mr. Chairman, in brief, are the principal points concerning the work of the High Commissioner's Office which I thought should be brought to the attention of the Committee before it takes up the various documents before it. I am sure the Committee will understand our reasons for postponing the submission of some of those documents, and also the absolute necessity for us to take immediate action, as soon as we have all the facts of any problem, within the financial limits which the Committee itself has imposed on us, to provide the refugees and their countries of reception with the assistance they need and which is the only means of preventing these problems from developing into social scourges, acting as an additional source of unrest and unsettlement in the countries concerned.

APPENDIX II Message from Mr. H. Opperman, Australian Minister for Immigration, to the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme 10 May 1965

I should be glad if you would convey to the High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Schnyder, and to members of the Executive Committee my best wishes for a successful meeting.

Whilst in Geneva a few days ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Schnyder and a number of the representatives gathered here today. I was then able to assure Mr. Schnyder of Australia’s continuing sympathy and support for the efforts of his Office in alleviating the plight of refugees both in Europe and areas outside Europe.

We in Australia are mindful that whilst the major aid programmes for refugees in Europe are nearing their completion, there still remain, particularly in Africa, substantial refugee problems the solution of which will demand the best endeavors of the High Commissioner and the support and understanding of Governments and voluntary agencies.

Australia will continue, by financial contributions to the High Commissioner's programme, by vigorous participation in the meetings of the Executive Committee and in other appropriate tangible forms, to play a constructive role in this work.

I regret that time does not permit of my being in Geneva during the Executive Committee meeting. However, my sincere good wishes go to all concerned in their deliberations.

(Signed) Hubert OPPERMAN

APPENDIX III General policy statement made by the High Commissioner during the thirteenth session of the Executive Committee

If we consider the questions which have been discussed during this 1965 spring session, we find that the main emphasis in our deliberations has been on the specific measures taken in the field of assistance to refugees, while the major questions of principle have remained in the background. One of the Committee's main tasks was to consider how far the new methods of work followed by Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the general principles which guide it have proved their worth in terms of practical achievements. It is, nevertheless, useful and indeed necessary to maintain a relationship between specific action and the general principles on which our action should be based, and I am particularly grateful to the representative of France for having given us an opportunity to discuss the matter. That representative, who is attending a session of the Committee for the first time, has shown a deep understanding of the main aspects of our work; the views which he has expressed fully coincide with the general ideas which have emerged in the course of our work and with the directives which the High Commissioner has received from his Executive Committee. I should, however, like to comment on some of the points which he raised in his statement.

I think that the fundamental principle underlying action by the Office, as well as by the countries of asylum, a principle which also underlines all the Committee's decisions, is that of the primary responsibility of the host country for the refugees to whom it grants asylum. That first principle is derived in turn from the even more important principle of national sovereignty. It is indeed quite obvious that each country must retain control of action taken within its own territory and that it rests with it to decide the nature of activities, which, in the long run, are of no less concern to its own nationals than to the refugees whom it receives on its soil. Action by the international community, particularly in the matter of assistance, the needs of the host countries, and must take account of the conditions prevailing in each of those countries.

The second point concerns the role of the High Commissioner and the limits imposed on his action. As I have often said, the UNHCR programme is not an end in itself, but a necessary means to the attainment of an end in the context of a much wider effort calling for assistance from many sources. The role of the High Commissioner is to stimulate international action and, by modest financial contributions, to set such action in motion, to guide it and to supplement it where necessary. The High Commissioner's Office, which is at once a catalyst and an intermediary, stimulates god will, and mobilizes all the assistance which can be supplied by Governments and various organizations for the execution of the plan of action drawn up for refugees in a given country. One of the first difficulties which it encounters lies in the fact that, in the intricate system of international co-operation and in its efforts at co-ordination, any authority which it wields is purely moral. The course of its action is accordingly dependent not only on the directives which it receives from the Executive Committee, but also on the operation of the complicated machinery of co-operation between the authorities of the host countries, the countries which are providing such countries with bilateral aid, the various international agencies and the voluntary organizations. Although this machinery has reached a fairly satisfactory degree of efficiency, this does not mean that no further action if required. Whenever the Office has to grapple with a new problem, action must again be taken to ensure that the machinery of co-ordination is functioning efficiently in the country concerned.

With regard to the criteria governing the High Commissioner's participation in assistance—and this, as I understand it, is one of the main points raised by the representative of France—it must be realized that, in the circumstances, there can only be general criteria, sufficiently flexible for application and adaptation to situations and needs as varied as those with which the Office is in fact confronted. A form of action which, in a developed country, would plainly lie outside the proper function of the Office, may, in certain parts of Africa, for instance, be indispensable to the execution of a plan as a whole. But, while it is necessary to ensure that the assistance activities of the Office are not crippled by criteria which are too rigid and specific and are ill-adapted to the situations which have to be met, it is none the less obvious that such activities must be subject to limits resulting from the nature of the institution and its recognized sphere of competence as well as from the purpose which its work is intended to achieve. Hence the need for a very clear definition of this purpose itself, since, in the last resort, it plays at least as important part as a priori considerations in determining the type of activity in which the Office may consider it desirable to co-operate, in the light of the circumstances and the overriding principles of its mission. This purpose, as we know, is to make refugees self-supporting as soon as possible and to enable them to dispense with help. Every programme of assistance must be drawn up with a view to helping the refugees to become integrated as rapidly as possible in their new community, in conditions approximating as closely as possible to those of the nationals of the host country.

In seeking to achieve this delicate balance between considerations which are often contradictory, this endless compromise between abstract principles and concrete facts, the Office naturally relies on the advice, support and directives provided by the Executive Committee, which is called upon at each session to determine the scope which action by the Office can and should take in any given case.

In addition to these considerations of principle, another important factor determining the limits of the High Commissioner's actions is that of the resources which are placed at his disposal or on which he can reasonably rely for the financing of his programme. In fact, the High Commissioner must adopt a realistic approach and a similar approach must, of course, be adopted by the Executive Committee in reviewing with him the feasibility and necessity of any given project. In short, I think that our discussions here should enable us, on the basis of the projects laid before the Committee, to form an opinion of both the value and the desirability of each individual project as well as of the resources on which the High Commissioner can draw to put them into effect, with particular reference to the support of the Governments chiefly concerned and represented on the Committee. I think that the 1964 current programme is a good illustration of this point. Although we had to meet certain financial difficulties in 1964, I am now happy to be able to say that, even though some of the projects could not be put into effect or financed until early in 1965, we have almost achieved the objective of the 1964 Programme. The measures taken to ensure that we remain within the practical possibilities open to us have, therefore, I believe, proved very effective.

The work of the High Commissioner, it must be repeated, is limited both in scope and in time. Whenever we approach a refugee problem, we must visualize a solution and then devote all our efforts to achieving that solution. Although the refugee problem as such, in other words, the historical phenomenon which constitutes the refugee problem, is apparently becoming permanent, for each separate manifestation of that phenomenon we are required to work out plans of action which will enable us to find a solution as soon as possible, the long-term objective being to help the refuges to cease to be refugees. Every aid programme must accordingly be regarded both from the immediate and from the long-term angle. The immediate purpose of our action is to help refugees to overcome the difficulties arising from the fact of their being refugees. Of course, other difficulties, particularly those of a legal nature, may arise and will require action by the High Commissioner in the field of protection. But where social action is concerned, our first concern is to draw up a constructive programme. It is not only a matter of promoting relief work on behalf of human beings in distress, but, as I have said, of helping refugees to meet their own needs. This overriding consideration which governs our action has inevitably also influenced the action of an organization like the League of Red Cross Societies when it has co-operated with the High Commissioner's Office in the instances of which you are aware. Its activities have then taken a new line and, generally speaking, have mainly consisted of providing emergency aid, during the first phase of a crisis, to peoples in distress.

The projects submitted to the Committee seem to me to illustrate what we are trying to do. I also think that it is important for the committee, and for the Office, whenever a specific but limited programme is put forward, to look ahead, where appropriate, at the future development of that programme. The latter is then seen as a first step in an undertaking which may extend over a period of as long as, say, three years but which the Committee and the Office have stated their firm intention from the outset of bringing to a successful conclusion. The project for aid to the refugees in Burundi is an example of what I have in mind. In that case, we have tries as far as possible to submit specific proposals covering a period of one year. At the same time, we wished to give the Committee an idea of the kind of action which would have to follow the measures proposed for the first year, on the understanding, of course, that all elements of the problem would have to be reviewed before any definitive proposals were submitted for 1966. Some of the information given in the documents before the Committee may also have to be carefully re-examined in the light of developments occurring in the meantime; if, for instance, as we hope, a considerable number of the Rwandese refugees now in Burundi can be transferred to Tanzania and settled on the Mwesi plateau, this should make it possible to relieve some of the strain on the Mugera settlement area and would cause us to review this project.

Part of the information submitted to the Committee accordingly constitutes a working hypothesis for the consideration of new projects. This applies in particular to the project for refugees from Mozambique in Tanzania. The exchange of views which has taken place in the Committee and in which the delegation of Tanzania took part seems to confirm the soundness of our assumptions. If the efforts being made to help these refugees to overcome the difficulties they are encountering as refugees prove successful, it should be possible for the Government of Tanzania, in three years' time, to take the view that the work of international co-operation has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion and that the refugees are bearing their share of responsibility on the same footing as Tanzanian citizens, and to grant them the same rights and privileges as the other inhabitants of the country. This seems to me to be the context in which the Office's plan of action for these refugees should be considered. I shall touch only one individual aspect of that plan, namely, education. The latter forms part of the general plan of action, but is not included in the programme of the Office, as we regard it as a special form of assistance which we hope to promote by obtaining outside aid for the purpose. In this connexion, I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation for the generous way in which Sweden is showing its interest in this matter, particularly with regard to aid to refugees in Africa and more especially in Tanzania. The goal which Tanzania has set itself is the institution of a system of general education. This goal has not yet been attained. But it is clear that if Tanzania is to assume responsibility for the education of refugees, international assistance must be planned in the light of its education programme and must be designed to form part of the actual social institutions existing in the country. In short, the education system set up for the refugees must be capable, after three