Speech #870008269

Mr. Speaker. on today. February 2. 1961. the Intergovernmental Committee for European MigrationICEMwill complete 9 years of outstanding service to governments and start upon its 10th year in moving migrants and refugees out of Europe to fill the manpower needs of the developing economies of Australia and the Latin American countries. ICEM. as many of my colleagues in the House who attended its session will recall. was organized at Brussels as a result of the Initiative of Members of the House of Representatives. Starting with 15 governments at Brussels. ICEMs membership has grown to 29 governments. At the last session of the ICEM Council in December 1960. at Geneva. the United Kingdom gave notice of its intention to apply for membership in ICEM as of April 1. 1961. Thus. all countries of emigration in Europe. except Portugal. and all immigration countries overseas will be members of ICEM. These 30 governments have a common interest in cooperating to develop planned migration responsive to their individual policies and needs. In 9 years of operations. ICEM has moved 1.042.947 persons overseas. of whom 447.178 were refugees. History will someday record that the movement of these substantial numbers out of Europe who could not be absorbed at the time in the convalescent economies of the European countries. was not only a major factor in easing tensions in European countries and in helping developing economies abroad. but also a demonstration that the free world could maintain a relative freedom of movement which is essential to its existence and a symbol of its character. This was particularly important in 1956 and 1957 when ICEM was able to assist the governments in the rapid and. I may even say. dramatic distribution of over 120.000 Hungarian refugees in resettlement overseas. In a similar manner. prepared to meet the fast emerging contingencies. ICEM is now assisting in the resettlement of Greeks and Italians returning from Egypt. of Italians and Spaniards returning from North Africa. of Dutch Indonesians returned to the Netherlands. and of Belgians fleeing the boiling caldron of the Congo. The fact that these people with a variety of skills and expertness in many occupations are placed without delay in the underdeveloped oversea economies where their skills are in immediate demand is a substantial contribution to the economy of the free world which cannot afford to waste available manpower. Its most precious asset. Through ICEM. many of the member governments assist each other in their special problems of emigration or immigration. In 1959 Canada provided a 6 months training course at her own expense for immigration officials of Latin American countries. Australias administrator of immigrant hostels and reception centers is presently advising the Argentine and Brazilian Governments on the establishment and administration of such centers. The Netherlands Government. which has had a long experience in emigration practices. is presently cooperating with ICEM in advising the Belgian Government. which has always been a country of immigration within Europe. with respect to the emigration of her nationals forced out of Congo. Venezuela has recently requested ICEM to provide an expert from another immigration member government to draft a basic code of immigration and to propose a body of immigration policies appropriate to Venezuelas needs. Emphasis within ICEM has shifted during the past few years from preoccupation with the problems of overcrowded countries in Europe such as Italy. the Netherlands. Spain. and Greece. to the equally pressing needs of the less developed Latin American countries which desperately need skilled and semiskilled workers. A major handicap in the economic development of the Latin American countries has been the absence of an adequate force of technically trained workers. The Latin American countries welcome the technical assistance which ICEM can provide in improving their immigration procedures and in establishing the administrations which can determine their needs in terms of numbers and skills. select them skillfully in Europe. and place them satisfactorily after arrival in the country of immigration. As in other fields of economic life. emigration and immigration countries are finding through ICEM that to achieve their particular objectives unilateral national efforts are not sufficient and must be supplemented by cooperation within the international organization. ICEM. and further. that collectively they must organize and develop positive programs of planned migration to serve their own purposes better. ICEM is therefore engaged in very useful experimentation in methods of cooperation between governments in a highly complex field of government interest and well deserves the continuing support of the U.S.