Speech #890166597

A realistic vocational training program would remove much of the necessity to seek additional skilled labor from foreign nations to meet anticipated needs in the construction field. In addition steps should be taken to establish vocational and agricultural type training for skills of the type needed in the villages in order that more people can become selfsupporting. The increasing activities of the South Vietnamese and allied military operations have led to thousands of refugees leaving their homes to escape Vietcong oppression or because of the displacements which are a problem of any war. It is a problem which is helped in South Vietnam by the nature of the people who have a longstanding tradition of caring for their own and assisting those who are homeless. Yet it is a problem which cannot be resolved through reliance upon these means alone. The numbers are far too great even now. Escalation of military operations will increase these numbers and with it the problem. These refugees are basically antiCommunist because they have felt the heel of Communist oppression. As such. they can be effectively utilized to tell their story to others who may be wavering in their support of the Government or who do not know .what oppression of this type can mean. These people cannot be used to get their story across nor are they likely to remain antiCommunist if they are caused to suffer unnecessary hardships and privations in their new homes. As they are a source for good today. they can become. as history has proven in other areas. a source of instability if their basic needs are not met. It is obvious that a coordinated longrange program to meet the refugee problem is not available today. There seems to be too much of an attitude that the problem can be overcome by passing out limited material aid and allowing the local populaces to attempt to assimilate the refugees. This is impractical. It cannot be accomplished. The South Vietnamese will assimilate every refugee humanly possible. It is their nature. but the numbers are far too great. There is immediate need for a large program for the resettlement of these refugees in areas where they can support themselves in new homes or at least until the time when they can return safely to their home villages. A little has been done but such areas must be established in a greater quantity than has been done to date. This resettlement should be coupled with increased vocational training. with primary emphasis on agriculture and in locally needed skills.