Speech #760225264

Mr. President. I wish to urge that we immediately make an appropriation of $50.000.000 or more with which to purchase surplus commodities in this country and give them to the refugees who are now a burden upon the Allies. I believe such a resolution should give wide powers to the President. I believe we should turn that money over to the President. with wide power to purchase surplus commodities in this country and give them to the refugees. We should give the President wide powers because it might be necessary to handle some of these commodities through the temporary governments of the refugee countries. also it might be necessary to handle these commodities through the governments of the Allies upon whom the burden has fallen of supporting this army of refugees. Mr. President. we do not see the heartbreaking stream of refugees moving toward Germany. They are all going the other way. in order to get away from the "scourge of Europe." This army of refugees constitutes a heavy burden upon the Allies. and within the limits of law and in keeping with Americas tradition we certainly could help them by giving to them surpluses that are weighing on our own markets. By the same act we would be helping the farmers in America. We would take surpluses that are embarrassing to us and put them where they were most needed.