Speech #840222121

Macao. and Vietnam. In my report to the Committee on the Judiciary covering my inspection trip to the Far East. I had this to say about that work: That the United States International Cooperation Administration is deserving of commendation for sponsoring and advancing selfhelp projects for refugees in the Far East such as lowcost housing and for the childfeeding program in Hong Kong. The childfeeding program in Hong Kong has been made possible by the authority granted in Public Law 480. which we are about to act upon. American surplus food has made possible the feeding of never less than 25.000 and as many as 40.000 children each day in the Crown Colony of Hong Kong. These are the children of refugees from communism and for the vast majority of them. the only food they get each day is that provided by the one meal per day per child plan which the American agencies have developed. I found that this program had the universal support as well as commendation of all elements of the population in Hong Kong. The British officials were very proud of the program and told me that it would be a terrible tragedy if circumstances ever made it necessary for us to stop that program. The Chinese welfare workers told me that this program spelled the difference between life and death for many children who came from large refugee families and where the father could barely earn enough to provide a small place for the family to sleep. but iiver enough food for all the members of the family. I could not help but think as I observed this program in operation that if the American lpeople could see. first hand. the great good that is being done by using the bounty of our agricultural surpluses. they would demand that similar programs be started wherever there was such a crying need. I discussed with American voluntary leaders and American Government officials in the Far East the question of making further use of our agricultural surpluses in critical areas of need in the Far East. There was unanimous agreement that everything possible should be done to further that objective. This led me to make the following conclusion in my report to the Committee on the Judiciary: That there is an abundance of opportunity in the Far East for the productive use of United States surplus agricultural commodities which would in no way disturb normal commercial markets. I feel that the use of our surplus commodities for bettering the lot of the refugees from communism in Vietnam. and in Macao. would bring further credit to United States interests in the Far East. In free VietNam there are over 800.000 refugees from communism. The Government of President Diem has done a remarkable job of providing emergency care and assistance for these victims of Communist aggression. But from my own personal observation.