Speech #840136160

We hope this increasingly urgent matter can be arranged without further delay. Several Government agencies have funds and interests which surely can be associated under the specific authorization given the Secretary of State. Transportation provisions for all persons qualifying under the Refugee Relief Act should and can be made uniform under section 8 of Public Law 203. Here is one way in which the President and the Secretary of State could act. now. without any need for legislative changes. to expedite the flow of refugees to this country under the refugee relief program. Second. Concerning the security measures that have been taken under the Refugee Relief Act. the Committee on the Refugee Relief program made two recommendations to President Eisenhower. The first one is as follows: About section 11 (a) of Public Law 203: This section requires that for all applicants there be thorough investigations and written reports prepared by such investigative agency or agencies of the United States as the President designates. regarding such persons character. reputation. mental and physical health. history and eligibility under this act. and that such investigations in each case shall be conducted in a manner and in such time as the investigative agency or agencies shall determine to be necessary. The President has designated the Department of State as the agency of the Government which shall make the investigations and written reports in cooperation with the Department of the Army and any other agencies of the Government which the Department of State may request. We believe that the Administrator of the program has it within his authority. according to the wording of section 11 (a). to conduct these operations in a less cumbersome manner and in a much shorter time. As a matter of fact. in keeping with our recommendations on legislative amendments. we feel that these requirements. which are over and beyond the security and investigating requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act. are not necessary. Third. The other security recommendation made to the President concerhied section 11 (d) of Public Law 203: This section of the law calls for complete information regarding the history of applicants covering a period of at least 2 years immediately preceding their application for a visa. This section has worked a great hardship on the more recent escapees who have not been out from behind the Iron Curtain for 2 years. In such cases the Department of State has indicated that it is difficult to obtain the 2year histories and it is attempting to reconstruct them.