Speaker. that the debates held in Geneva have once more acknowledged the vitality and the usefulness of ICEM. an organization conceived and founded by our lamented colleague and friend. Francis E. Walter. as a valuable and important instrument serving not only humanitarian principles and aims butfirst and foremostvital U.S. interests in the field of our national immigration policy and world migratory movements. The most important task facing ICEM at the present moment Is to find ways and means to cope with a rising trend of demands from new refugees for resettlement. While the generosity of many countries maintains their doors openAustralia. Canada. South Africa. Sweden. and New Zealand should be mentioned at this point together with the United States operating under the refugee fair share lawthe increase of needs for expeditious movement of refugees creates for ICEM additional financial difficulties. The current situation in the refugee sector of ICEMs operations was presented to the organizations Council byICEMs new Deputy Director Walter M.. Besterman. who served as our counsel for over 19 years. When Walter Besterman resigned from the staff of the Judiciary Committee last September to assume his post in Geneva to which he was unanimously elected by ICEMs Council. the Speaker had this to say about him. among other things: Besterman researched and presented the facts with a strict and inflexible integrity for the whole truth and then he let the facts.. and the history behind them speak for themselves. When. as so often happened. his counsel and personal advice were sought by those who were charged with the responsibility for legislation and for action. he provided it in a manner that cast a penetrating shaft of light on the facts of a situation. The presentation of the current refugee problems by Walter Besterman was in his best tradition. No wonder he was vigorously applauded by all present at the meeting. a very infrequent occurence in Geneva meetings. For the information of the House. his address follows:
Keywords matched
immigration refugee refugees