Speech #810190738

I prefer not to yield until I conclude. Mr. President. it has been stated time and time again in this debate that there has been a misstatement of fact in that connection. and on that point there has been a dispute between certain Senators. some of whom have been charged with making a misstatement of fact because they outlined the authority exercised by the Immigration and Naturalization Service and by the Displaced Persons Commission. I hold in my hand the original order issued by Watson B. Miller. Commissioner of Immigration. from the Central Office. to Almanza Tripp. officer in charge in Europe. The order is entitled "Subject: Displaced Persons Activity." Mr. Tripp and Mr. Miller placed this order in the record this morning at a meeting of the Immigration Subcommittee. which is still taking testimony on this bill. As I have said. the hearings have not yet even been printed. In order to put at rest the conflict as to who has authority. I shall read to the Senate the original letter. which delineates the authority exercised by each group. Mr. President. this letter is dated I read: Questions of jurisdiction and responsibility raised in your letter dated June 24. 1949. and referred in subsequent communications concerning determinations as to who are "displaced persons" within the definition of annex I of the International Refugee Organization Constitution and who are "eligible displaced persons" within the meaning of section 2 of the Displaced Persons Act have been made the subject of conferences between representatives of this ServiceMeaning the Immigration Servicethe Displaced Persons Commission. and the State Department. as a result of which the following conclusions which have been concurred in by our Department have been reached. Listen to this. Mr. President. and let us see who is right in this controversy: The International Refugee OrganizationWhich is not an American organization. it is a foreign organization.