Speech #810085646

Three of these bills. S. 98. S. 99. and S. 100. of which I am a cosponsor. as well as the House bill. if enacted. would liberalize the 1948 act and enable the United States to take at least a step toward assuming its full share of world refugee and displacedpersons responsibilities. On June 8. 1949. the Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments submitted to the Senate a report on the International Refugee Organization. prepared by the Subcommittee on Relations With International Organizations. headed by the able junior Senator from Maryland [Mr. OCONORL. As a member of that subcommittee and as its former chairman. I take the liberty of urging Members of the Senate to give careful consideration to this reportSenate Report No. 476. In it is to be found the incontrovertible evidence of the failure on the part of our Government to assume its full measure of responsibility with respect to displaced persons and refugees. In it is also disclosed the fact that between 1945. when World War II came to an end. and May 1949. the United States has accepted only 72.500 persons for permanent immigration. Of those persons. 44.000 were admitted by Executive authority. pursuant to existing law prior to the enactment of the Displaced Persons Act of 1948. only 28.500 persons have been admitted under the act itself as of May 1. 1949. Aside from the humanitarian aspects of the proposed amendments. this report points out that liberalizing existing legislation might well result in effecting a considerable saving of the taxpayers money. By June 30. 1949. the United States will have spent approximately $141.800.000 in connection with its participation in the International Refugee Organization.. the international organization charged with the care. maintenance. and resettlement of displaced persons and refugees. By June 30. 1950. when the IRO is supposed to have completed its mission. this Government will have spent an estimated total of $212.230.000 in this connection. There are still approximately 700.000 displaced persons and refugees to be resettled. Of this number. 360.900. or more than half. are in the United States zone of Germany. Direct care by the United States Government in 1947. prior to the operations of the International Refugee Organization. cost the United States $130.000.000. All the evidence points to the fact that the International Refugee Organization will not be able to complete its task by June 30. 1950. and this Government will again be called upon to contribute a substantial amount of money. Action is called for and action is necessary. Unless we take the lead in liber7 alizing our displacedpersons legislation.