Mr. President. I wish to speak very briefly in support of Senate bill 1917. which is now under consideration and which provides for the issuance of 240.000 special quota immigrant visas to certain escapees.. German expellees. and nationals of Italy. Greece. and the Netherlands. I believe. as stated by the majority of the Committee on the Judiciary. that the measure "moves in the American spirit and tradition." The bill will implement President Eisenhowers desire that we share with other nations the effort to find a solution to one of the most tragic problems of our timesthe plight of persons uprooted from their homes. or expelled from behind the Iron Curtain. who have sought refuge in other lands. Two years ago I offered a resolution in the Senate calling upon the President to take the initiative in calling an international conference to deal with this matter. At that time the continued presence of a huge surplus population in Western Germany. composed of expellees and refugees. constituted a grave impediment to the restoration of the economic stability of Germany. the social and political rehabilitation of Europe. and to a peaceful solution of Europes difficulties. The urgency and scope of this problem. not only in Western Germany. but in Italy and other nations. is such as to require the immediate attention of all nations of good will to find the means. through cooperative efforts. to remedy the economic. social. moral. and political problems created by these surplus populations. If we are to accomplish and achieve permanent world peace we must solve this disturbing factor.
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immigrant visas refugees