Arab League

CouncilThe 19th session of the Council of the Arab League met in Cairo on September 7, 1953. It was announced that delegations at the United Nations of member states, in concert with delegations of Asian and African countries, would continue efforts to bring the Moroccan and Tunisian complaints before the General Assembly. The Council expressed the hope that the General Assembly could “persuade France to respond to the legal aspirations of Morocco and Tunisia†and thus enable the Arab League to avoid “taking certain measures which Arab public opinion is insisting on†. The Council added that the member states did not recognize “the illegal conditions imposed by the French authorities in Morocco†. The Council endorsed agreements signed by Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan for the exchange of agricultural and animal products without customs duties, for the exchange of industrial products at favorable rates, and for the transfer and investment of capital between Arab countries. It was also reported that the Council had agreed to a suggestion of the Jordanian government that members of the Arab League help finance the Jordan National Guard with a sum of £1 million, one-half from League funds and the other from subscriptions from members on the basis of their contributions to the League. A further request from Jordan for £2 million to raise living standards in villages bordering Israel and for £0.5 million for reconstruction in Jerusalem and reclamation of agricultural lands was reported to be under consideration.