Mr. President. with reference to the foreign aid bill. considerable doubt as to the situation involving refugees has arisen among individuals interested in refugees fleeing from Communist countries. In the report of the House mention is made concerning the paradox of our country giving aid. for instance. to Communist Yugoslavia. and then giving aid to refugees from Communist Yugoslavia as they flee into Austria. Germany. and Italy. These fugitives are trying to escape persecution in Yugoslavia. They have fled into Italy. Germany. and Austria. and. in some rare instances. they have been accepted into the asylum of those countries. but. in most instances. they have been ordered back to Yugoslavia by the screening committees. The language used in the House report would throw some doubt upon whether it was intended that the moneys appropriated for the assistance of refugees might or might not be used to help legitimate and genuine refugees out of Yugoslavia. I do not believe that the language used in the report can be construed to mean that this money is precluded from being used to help the Yugoslavian refugees. In any event. I have a letter which was written by His Excellency Edward E. Swanstrom. titular bishop of Arba. executive director. In this letter he encloses a paper discussing "The Plight of Refugees Fleeing From Yugoslavia." He sets forth the distressing position occupied by these refugees. He points out that in many instances they have been sent back to Yugoslavia to suffer the torments of the final penalties imposed because they fled from Communist domination. Mr.
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Refugees refugees