Mr. Chairman. the political implication may be understood in this country. but what will the meaning be to those who live in the free nations of the world? This Congress and this administration believe in the principles of the Refugee Relief Act. and I hope serious consideration will be given to words before spoken. not only to their political implication but also the impact of those words upon the people we seek to help. I would like today to speak about the progress being made toward the objectives of the Refugee Relief Actthat humanitarian legislation so firmly supported by President Eisenhower. I was delighted to note that our Secretary of State. in his press conference Monday. paid tribute to the Administrator of that act. Scott McLeod. "Nothing." he said. "has come to my attention which in any way shakes my respect for or loyalty to Mr. McLeod." In view of this consistent leadership of the refugee relief program. it is fitting that. as the halfway mark in this 40month program is reached. we examine its accomplishments and consider the ways in which the American people must help during the next 20 months. to bring this program to a successful conclusion. Mr. McLeod found himselfby specific provision of the Refugee Relief Actthe Administrator of this emergency law when it was enacted in August of 1953. From a standing start. his office tooled up a worldwide visaissuing machine and were in business within a few months. The Refugee Act involved international agreements. interagency understandings. financing problems. overseas installations. creation of regulations. hiring of workers in this country and in foreign cities. plans for security investigations. medical examinations. processing cases and myriad other details of a vast new system that was required to reach around the world on short notice. Is it any wonder that there have been expressions of impatience from those who thoughtlessly felt that some magic wand should be waved and refugees moved within days and weeks? The interests of the United States are expressed in the law of Congress on this matter and must be protected above all else. No one person could be brought into this country until an American citizen acted to become his sponsor.
Keywords matched
Refugee refugee refugees