Speech #800185368

With the establishment of the IRO. or its preparatory commisison. we authorized a contribution of more than $73.000.000 in fiscal 1948. But we are not acting either in their interest or in ours by continuing to maintain them. On December 22. 1945. the President issued a directive whereby displaced persons were given preference in filling regular immigration quotas. It was a humane gesture. but it was no more than a gesture. It did not alter existing immigration laws other than by that preference. It did not permit an increase in the number of immigrants who might come to the United States. It did not give DPs any quota numbers unused in the past. It provided no basis of selection other than provided by the immigration laws and their quotas. and it is important to realize that the bulk of DPs are from nations which have the lowest immigration quotas. About 30.000 displaced persons have been admitted to the United States under the directive. Those admissions have disproportionately represented the elements in the displaced persons population because of the quota restrictions. In no event can it be called a significant resettlement program. It has. at best. been a demonstration of intent which demands pursuing.