Speech #860085666

Mr. Speaker. last December the United States joined with other free countries in the United Nations in sponsoring a proposal for a World Refugee Year. It was the hope of our Government that the proclamation of such a year would have the effect of arousing interest in refugees among countries and segments of the public who had not previously seemed aware of their plight. and would at the same time revive public concern and lead to greater assistance from those countries which had traditionally shown compassion for. and generosity toward these. our unhappy fellow human beings. Only the Soviet bloc opposed the proposal for the obvious reason that many of the refugees are fugitives from communism. Currently more than 30 countries have indicated that they will participate in the year. which begins today. by doing what lies within their power to help. It is hard to estimate the extent of the refugee problem. Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold of the United Nations has said that over 40 million people have become refugees since the end of World War II and that there are still 15 million without permanent homes. Of this number the United Nations helps only the 2 or 3 million who require international aid in special ways. The two largest groups are the nearly 1 million Palestine Arab refugees in the Middle East. almost half under 15. and the 1 million refugees from Communist China living in desperation and poverty in Hong Kong. The AlgerianFrench war has resulted in the flight of 210.000 refugees from Algeria into Tunisia and Morocco. the large majority of whom are women. children and oldsters. Escapees from communism in Europe number 100.000. many of whom are still in camps after nearly 20 years. There are 9.000 European refugees in Communist China. The recent aggression of Communist China against Tibet has driven 10.000 Tibetan refugees into India. Refugees from Nassers Egypt number about 5.000 and other scattered groups increase the total by some 15.000. Some countries have welcomed large numbers of socalled refugees as nationals and accord them all the rights of citizenship. West Germany. for example. has opened Its doors to 12 million East Germans and 2.000 a week are still filtering across the border to escape the Communist dictatorship. South Korea and South Vietnam have offered the same kind of haven to their nationals from the Communist north. During the World Refugee Year the United States plans a fivepoint program of assistance for the refugees aided through the United Nations. First. Continued support for existing refugee programs at a cost of about $40 million a year. Second. An additional $4 million to be assigned to the most pressing refugee problems. Third. A special immigration program to bring to the United States part of the refugees requiring resettlement. Fourth. An increase of $10 to $20 million for food distribution from the surplus agricultural commodity program. Fifth. Full support for programs undertaken by the U.S. Committee for Refugees. which is coordinating the efforts of private refugee relief groups. Those of us who are interested in helping in this program can do so through the many private agencies cooperating through the U.S. Committee for Refugees. Here is one instance in which individual efforts can help in the solution of an International problem of great importance. We should not miss the opportunity the World Refugee Year affords. Proposing the Corn Tassel as National Floral EmblemJune 30. 1959