Speech #830100134

I have been very much interested in the Senators analysis of certain provisions of this bill. such as the ethnic origin .provision. and what I might term the kind of legislative trickery which might develop in terms of admission of the expellees or escapees involved. The President had in mindand I just reread his letter to the Vice Presidenta very constructive and forthright act of American diplomacy and American generosity. He realized. as others have realized. that the tremendous problems the people in Europe have because of the expellees and the refugees. the problem of the recipient and the individual problem of those who have suffered from tyranny. could be somewhat eased by positive action on the part of our Government. As the Senator from Rhode Island . pointed out. while the Presidents thought was constructive and his program was certainly commendatory and deserved support. unfortunately. a good deal of the good will that could have come from this symbol of American fair play and compassion has been lost because of the arguments and the debates and the difficulties which have been encountered in getting this bill to the floor. I know the chairman of the subcommittee has had a most difficult assignment. I shall not try to block the bill. I shall cast my vote in favor of it because it is the best that is available. But I think we should make it crystal clear that whenever we enter upon a legislative proposal such as this what we really seek is not a solution of the problem. because the problem of overpopulation is not going to be solved by a 220.000 nonquota visa proposalthe problem is much more basic than thatbut what we are trying to do is to demonstrate. as the senior Senator from New York pointed out. the sense of American understanding and appreciation of the serious and pressing problem of the escapee. the refugee. and the expellee. and of the heartaches they have had to endure. This is essentially symbolic legislation. token legislation. expressive of the finest part of Americaits heart. I am not one who worries about people coming from Europe.