Speech #850021606

Pakistan on the east. and Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia on the south. This bill is similar to the administration measure. S. 1006. providing for the admission of refugees from Communist states. but the IvesJavits bill would add escapees fleeing the tensions in the Middle East to the list of refugees eligible to enter the United States. and add 10.000 to the number annually admissible under the administration bill to deal with this situation. We must now recognize that our policy with respect to refugees and escapees is an important part of our overall foreign policy. The flight from Hungary of thousands of refugees and our policy in helping resettle them effectively illustrates that. The plight of those of Jewish faith expelled from Egypt poses another serious problem we must face and there may yet be other eruptions from behind the Iron Curtain. As I have said. approximately 12.000 Egyptian Jews. according to the latest figures available. have been forced out of or from Egypt as a result of the policy of persecution by Col. Nassers government. This figure represents almost onefourth of Egypts total Jewish population of 50.000. Certainly. these unfortunate men and women who were expelled or who fled after having been systematically pauperized. maltreated and interned as common criminals because of their adherence to their faith or because they are not Egyptian citizens are no less refugees and no less deserving of sympathetic assistance from the Government and people of the United States than those who were able to escape the terror in Hungary. This bill would provide for the admittance of a share of these people into the United States as well as establishing the framework for the admission of other groups of escapees whatever their race or religion from future terroristic oppression or from Communist dominated regimes. One of our tasks in the fight against communism is to provide an attractive alternative to those living under communism. offering those seeking escape from behind the Iron Curtain the prospect of resettlement and realization of their hope to live under free institutions.