Speech #830100049

President. by the fact that the countries of reception on the periphery of the *Iron Curtain countries are also struggling to solve their own overpopulation problems and to rehabilitate their economies which are now beginning to recover from the ravages of the last great war. Mr. President. the junior Senator from New Jersey can speak with some firsthand knowledge of conditions in the refugee camps Which dot West Germany. I was a member of a special subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee which visited the countries of Italy. Germany. and the rest of free Europe last summer to investigate the overall problems of escapees and refugees from behind the Iron Curtain. In the course of our study of these conditions. we were able to discuss this difficult problem at length with our representatives to the United States missions in Europe. with representatives of the European countries. with the representatives of many intergovernmental organizations active in the field of refugees. and with the representatives of many voluntary agencies dealing with refugee problems. The visit to Italy and West Germany. in particular. strengthened my own belief in the need for stopgap immigration legislation. I offered a bill in the 82d Congress to admit 300.000 refugees on an emergency basis. and this year proposed Senate bill 1379 which differed in degree with the measure now before us. but which is In full agreement with its principles. Mr. President. one of the points raised in opposition to the Watkins bill involves the possibility of infiltration by subversive influences to our shores. The junior Senator from flew Jersey knows that the West German Government is doing a commendable job in screening these escapees whom the Communists would vilify with lies about their past records. - We must remember it is in the interests of the Reds to smear those who have fled from their proletarian "paradise." I feel that the assurances which the Committee on the Judiciary has received from our intelligence agencies are adequate to protect the security of the United States. Mr. President. insofar as the screening of these prospective immigrants is concerned. the Watkins bill possesses the necessary safeguards. I would not support the proposed legislation if I were not convinced that we will be able to deal with the security aspects of this new immigration policy in a tough manner. The provisions of the bill in this respect are even more stringent than are the provisions of the WalterMcCarran Act. Let us us hear for a moment.