Mr. President. In the aftermath of the Red Armys ruthless suppression of the antiSoviet revolt in Hungary last autumn. there was a surge of interest and sympathy among the American people for the fate of the thousands of Hungarian refugees who had fled to freedom across the Austrian border. Americans learned that there were hundreds of thousands of such refugees from Soviet terror. They knew that these refugees could not stay in camps in Austria. but hoped for the opportunity to build new lives in the free world. Hungarian families arrived in communities throughout our country. Vice President RICHARD M. NIxoN made a wellpublicized Christmas season visit to the refugee camps In Austria. and upon his return reported his recommendations of a widely expanded refugee program for the United States. From all this. most men and women in America probably retain the impression that the United States has been the leader in solving the problems of the mass flight from Hungary last winter. largely by generously and openarmedly welcoming the Hungarian refugees to our own country. I wish to point out briefly today how false this impression is. I doubt that many Americans realize how much better a reception other smaller nations have given the Hungarian escapees. relatively speaking. than we have. As the traditional haven of the oppressed and persecuted from other lands. America actually has little cause for smug selfsatisfaction in our record of accepting Hungarian refugees into our own country. This is not to say that. individually. Americans have not been generous in their humanitarian response to the immediate needs of the people in the Austrian camps. for instance through such private American organizations as the International Rescue Committee. and individuals sending CARE packages. Americans have always responded generously toward meeting the concrete and immediate needs of human tragedy and misery. But so far as the longrange needs of new homes. new communities. and new opportunities for useful lives are concerned. we have lagged far behind the relative contribution of nations far smaller and less wealthy than the United States. The Department of Justice announced some time ago that the United States is. for all major purposes. shutting down its program for accepting Hungarian refugees. Henceforth. admissions will be limited to persons with relatives in the United States and a few people possessing special skills badly needed in this country.
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refugee refugees