Speech #800221652

For it was after the December date that tens of thousands from eastern Europe. most of whose kin had already been exterminated by the Nazis. escaped to the DP camps from violent political and religious persecution. These thousands still in the camps are barred by this law. The failure to make this change will be considered as outright discrimination by thousands of American families who have friends and relatives in the DP camps. for it sets a wholly arbitrary sandard and admits as immigrants DPs not according to the proportions of their elements actually in the DP camps. but according to the arbitrary standard set in a law which gives a preference to one element over others at least equally deserving. Those of us who have seen the DP camps and talked personally with hundreds of DPs and with their relatives In the United States. will realize vividly the personal tragedies involved. Members may as well assure their constituents that the change will be made early in the next session for the protest will be so loud and clear. and so well justified that I believe the next Congress will have to make it one of its first acts.