Speech #860206091

Italy. instead of the usual meeting place which is Geneva. Switzerland. The main reason for this change of meeting place is the desire of the 29 member nations of ICEM to dramatize the departure of the onemillionth migrant moved from Europe by the organization which began its operations in February 1952. It is quite important that this legislation be well on its way to final enactment by the time ICEMs council convenes next month. There have been recently certain proposals made in the field of immigration which appear to be based on the idea A2997 that the absorptive capacity of the United States is practically unlimited. The proposals I have in mind have apparently not been based on sufficient studies of the implications which the fastgrowing population of the United States. the inadequacy of employment opportunities. and the lack of facilities for housing. education. and medical care have made urgently necessary. No study of these matters has been made prior to the submission of recommendations under which the United States population would be further increased by a very considerable influx of immigrants. It appears to me that the interest of the United States has not been taken into consideration by the authors of those proposals. This legislation does not belong in that category. It does not provide for any sizable increase in our annual immigration intake while it opens our doors to a reasonable and assimilable number of desirable people who need a safe haven and an opportunity to start a new life and who deserve to benefit from the blessings of freedom and American opportunities. How many will come under this resolution? The answer to that question depends on the extent of cooperation which this country will obtain from our friends abroad. For example. according to the latest report I received from the Director of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration. that organization transported from Europe to oversea countries in the calendar year 1959. a total of 42.166 refugees. 9.652 of them came to the United States under the now expiring provisions of section 15 of the act of September 11. 1957. Consequently. the number of refugees admitted in 1959 by countries other than the United States was 32.514. Assuming that all of these refugees were subject to the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and further assuming that in the year 1960 countries other than the United States will admit the same number of refugees. the Attorney General would be authorized to admit 25 percent of that number to the United States. which would be 8.126 persons. Provided. of course. that the Secretary of State has made that finding and has advised the Attorney General as to the precise number of those whom he may parole into the United States in each of the 6month periods. However. if the Secretary of State finds that the other nations have curtailed the size of their total semiannual intake of refugees of the category specified in this resolution. our intake will automatically diminish proportionately in the immediately following 6 months. The legal concept of this resolution is based on the experience gained in 1956 and in 1957 when the very efficient administration and the successful results of the use of the parole provision of the WalterMcCarran Act has permitted us to assume the position of leadership in providing safety and resettlement of those who escaped the Soviet massacre of the heroic Hungarian revolution. We have maintained then. and we still maintain. that position of leadership which we first assumed in providing resettlement for displaced persons and refugees in the years since 1945 up to the present time. I stress this point not because of a desire to boast about our achievements. I believe that it is necessary to remind certain facts. from time to time--not so much to our friends and enemies abroad who realize very well what the United States has donebut to some of our own people at home. who seem to tend too often to minimize our actions. As an example. let me remind you that just about 2 weeks ago it was stated in the other body that little Venezuela has done infinitely more for displaced persons and refugees than the United States. Suffice it to say that in the period of ICEMs activities. from 1952 until 1959. Venezuela has admitted 1.700 refugees while the United States has admitted 300.000. I do not say that in order to belittle Venezuelas contribution which has apparently done what she was able and willing to do. and we appreciate that. but to point out that the criticism of our own deeds by our people has about reached the high point of absurdity. Mr.