Speech #840153666

It should be recognized that governmental and private agencies which encourage defections by Communist citizens assume the risk that redefection may take place later on. and they should therefore recognize their obligation to exert every effort consistent with a free society to avoid such redefections. American agencies. however laudable their intentions. should not manufacture propaganda for the Communists by unwittingly setting the stage for redefections and failing to prevent them. The number of Federal agencies involved in the reception and resettlement of refugees from communism is considerable. ranging from the Presidents special escapee program to the International Cooperation Administration. the Department of State. and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Doubtless. too. our Central Intelligence Agency plays a considerable role in such matters. As the Donovan Commission of the International Rescue Committee pointed out. the Health. Education. and Welfare Department could also play an important part in assisting refugees to become more quickly adjusted to life in our country. A successful program of receiving and holding the allegiance of such refugees clearly requires the sound coordination of many agencies. In addition to governmental bodies. private religious and nationality welfare groups also make a very important contribution. Yet. when the five Soviet sailors left for the Soviet Union on April 8. the United States Immigration officials held a brief hearing at which the only counsel available to the redefectors was supplied by the Soviet Embassy. The private agency which had rhared in assisting the seamen in this country. was. apparently. given short shrift by the immigration officials. Neither the State Department nor the Justice Department have added any light to the question of why the redefections took place. If this matter was conducted in accordance with a coordinated Federal policy. surely that policy could be better explained to the American public than has been done to date. On the other hand. if the redefection of the Soviet seamen represents a failure of United States policy. as it clearly seems to do on the evidence available at this time. the Federal agencies which might have helped to avoid this deplorable incident should reconsider their conduct in the matter. If the Central Intelligence Agency. for example. shared in the responsibility for integrating these unfortunate refugees into American life. then this surely illustrates the need for a check on that Agency in addition to the Presidential one. Perhaps this unfortunate incident reflects not only mismanagement by the administration but also is indicative of the somewhat callous attitudes toward refugees which animates some of our laws in this area. The rigid health and job requirements for entrance into this country under the Displaced Persons Act of 1948 and the Refugee Relief Act of 1953 have disillusioned most of the 220.000 fugitives from Eastern Europe who still live in squalid camps on the edge of the Iron Curtain. thereby blunting the substantial accomplishments of these laws. Congress should not remain indifferent to the fate of these remaining victims of Communist tyranny. The Refugee Relief Act should not be allowed to expire without compensatory immigration opportunities being provided for these special cases. Unless this is done and done quickly. can we reasonably expect that the rate of Communist propaganda victories. such as the redefection of these five Soviet seamen. will decrease rather than increase? I include as part of my remarks the text of two letters which I have just received from Msgr. Edward E. Swanstrom. the executive director of the National Catholic Welfare Conference. and Roland Elliott. director of the immigration services of Church World Service. Inc.. of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.