Speech #840059040

Mr. President. as chairman of the subcommittee on refugees. escapees. and expellees. I am again presenting the figures from the Department of State statistical report dated June 10. 1955. showing the most recent figures of the status of visa applications under the Refugee Relief Act of 1953. Public Law 203. 83d Congress. On June 3. when I made my report. I was delighted to tell the Senate that 1.267 visas had been issued between the period May 20 to May 27. The figures I am going to give now cover the period May 27 to June 10. During that period a total of 2.040 visas have been issued. This is at the rate of 1.020 per week. From this figure it must be inferred that either the assurances are not coming in fast enough or else the State Department is not processing these applications at the same rate of speed as during the preceding period. The report date June 10. 1955. shows the distribution of the 33.959 visas issued as follows: Total issued Italy ------------------------------ 10. 737 Greece ----------------------------- 5.647 Netherlands ----------------------- 568 Germany -------------------------- 2.809 Austria ---------------------------- 2.792 Far East --------------------------- 841 Others ---------------------------- 65 I realize that it is always of interest to know how many of these 33.959 persons have actually taken advantage of the privilege of coming to the United States. and I am told thatas of June 10. 1955. 22.478 persons have actually been admitted to the United States. The law provides for the admission of 214.000. That law has only another year and a half left to run. So far. only 22.478 persons have actually been admitted. Taking up the matter of orphans. under the provisions of Public Law 203. 4.000 orphans may be admitted. As of June 10. 1.124 orphan visas have been issued and 760 orphans have actually found homes with their adoptive parents in the United States. It is quite obvious from the report that unless there is a marked change in getting persons to come into the United States. even though visas have been issued. sooner or later a request will be made for. an extension of the act. because at the present rate the 214.000 will not come in before the act expires.