I precede them with a list of the distinguished officers and members of the board of directors of the committee. and then with the text of the telegram which was sent by the late Rear Adm. Richard E. Byrd on Monday. March 11. The telegram was sent to the last mayor of free Budapest. Josef Koevago. who was then touring the United States under the sponsorship of the IRC. That very evening. this great spiritAdm. Richard E. Byrdpassed on. Admiral Byrds association with IRC had been a long and outstainding one. Back in 1949 he was the founding chairman of the IRCs Iron Curtain refugee campaign. Incidentally. on Friday of this week it will be my pleasure to introduce with many cosponsors legislation for the Richard E. Byrd Antarctic Commission.