Mr. President. in conclusion. I wish to stress that the refugeerelief program has a great humanitarian purposeto hold out hope to those unfortunate people who have been driven from their homes by war or uprooted by fear of political reprisal. Further. however. it is an essential part of our foreign policy in attempting to meet and counter the redefection campaign of the Communists. Our failure to our responsibility under the Refugee Relief Act could have unfortunate consequence for us in providing a Communist victory in this redefection campaign. The Congress has legislation pending that would make those legislative changes necessary if we are to fulfill the goals of the refugeerelief program. But. as I stated at the outset and have spelled out with the recommendations of those groups best qualified to criticize administration of the program. the President and the Secretary of State have it within their means to make such administrative changes as need to be made to expedite this program. I would not want to close without paying tribute to the voluntary agencies that have done so much in an effort to assist refugees in coming to this country under the Refugee Relief Act. They have given of their efforts selflessly and tirelessly in an attempt to help those who seek a haven from political oppression and a new home after years of being uprooted. They deserve the thanks not only of those they have helped but the thanks and commendation of us all for the fine. dedicated work they are doing. We owe it to them as well as to the refugees who look to us for assistance to improve the refugeerelief program. I join with the voluntary agencies in urging President Eisenhower to take action now. The President should instruct the Secretary of State and the administrator of the refugeerelief program to make those administrative changes that are so urgently needed. The refugeerelief program must not fail in itsmission of bringing to their new home all of the refugees we intended to welcome when we passed the Refugee Relief Act. In the defense of our national institutions--our Americanismunadulteratedfew can equal its constant and unswerving guardianship. It was quite a disappointment to some and a pleasure to me that here in Washington. during a recent National Convention of the American Legion. the bands and drum corps who led the parade concentrated on Onward Christian Soldiers and The Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Keywords matched
refugeerelief Refugee refugees