We likewise found. the worst. But we found a character of human being on the average who would be a real credit to this country or to any of the many other countries to which many displaced persons have gone since the war in Europe ended in May 1944. I have always had the utmost sympathy for these unfortunate refugees in Europe and elsewhere. Mr. President. I supported legislation in the Eightieth Congress which culminated in the Displaced Persons Act of 1948. I stated on the floor of the Senate in the course of the debate on that legislation that I was in favor of any relief which could be rendered the war displaced persons and which would be in conformity with our established immigration policy and the immigration statutes in effect. I still maintain that position. I am strongly opposed. however. to any legislation which enlarges the scope of the displaced persons category. to the extent that it constitutes a breakdown. as I see it. of our immigration barriers. as the bill. H. R. 4567. to my mind most certainly does. Mr. President. the fact is that the proponents of this legislation have seized. and quite naturally. upon an issue which is fraught with human interest and public misunderstanding. the result of which will be to accomplish for a particular group of Europeans who are barred by our immigration laws. access into the United States in short order. when. if they were forced to await the normal procedures of the immigration laws they could probably never accomplish entry within their lifetimes. The Displaced Persons Act of 1948. as It is now administered. has already caused to be admitted thousands of persons who displaced themselves and who were not the real sufferers in the war. Under the various proposed amendments the numbers of such persons would be multiplied by tens of thousands.
Keywords matched
immigration refugees