Speech #810183851

We propose to strengthen section 12 and make it an effective instrument for the admission of expellees rather than weaken section 2 and nullify opportunities for IRO displaced persons. This. incidentally. is the view of the religious and voluntary agencies involved. various church organizations and civic groups. which are of such assistance in placing displaced persons in this country. securing assurances of work. assurances of homes. without which the Government would be put to great expense in the operation of the agency. While some people may feel that a great moral victory has been won by extending equal eligibility status to the expellees as that enjoyed by the displaced persons under the care of the International Refugee Organization. the fact is no practical results may be attained through this moral victory. It is fair to assume that it was the intent of the committee to make it possible for eligible expellees to be admitted into the United States. and therefore it is important to point out the basic reasons why the equal status cannot be applied: (a) The processing centers have been established by the International Refugee Organization and are maintained by them. Under the IRO constitution it is Impossible to admit expellees to these processing facilities. (b) Arrangements would have to be made to set up resettlement centers in Germany and Austria independent of the IRO in order to meet the new definition of a displaced person. These resettlement centers must provide facilities for the full care of the applicants for immigration to the United States for a period of from 1 to 2 weeks. In addition. facilities must be provided for all the agencies of the United States Government identical with those that now apply in the IRO resettlement centers. (c) Centers would have to be established at the ports of embarkation. similar to those now established by the IRO to provide for persons under its care. Experience has proven that persons approved for immigration to the United States must wait In the ports of embarkation for a period of from 5 days to 2 weeks. Since there are no available housing facilities in the port of Bremen. the complete facilities for embarkation camps would have to be provided. In other words. they would have to be built there. (d) The IRO is responsible for providing transportation from Europe to the United States for all persons under its care who are approved for immigration to the United States. It is impossible for the IRO to provide similar service for expellees. Thus. we would be faced with the problem of shipment.