Speech #910044401

June 19..1969 Mr. Thomas assumed his duties in the Geneva. Switzerland. headquarters on February 19. 1969. after being unanimously elected as Director of ICEM during the 29th session of the Council on ICEM. a 31member government international organization. was established in 1951 and has helped resettle 1.6 million refugees and migrants in new lands and opportunities. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee who has closely worked with ICEM and with John Thomas. I am proud that he is at the helm of this humanitarian organization which serves both people in need and countries in need of people. Mr. Thomas has enjoyed the respect and cooperation of all who have worked with him. His nomination by the United States is recognition of his ability both in the administrative and operational sectors of refugee assistance. Mr. Thomas. born on January 24. 1907. in Minneapolis. Minn.. is the fifth Director of ICEM since its creation in 1951. He is the fourth American to hold this position. During the past 25 years he has held important posts in various national and international organizations dealing with refugee resettlement and migration. Until recently he was the director of U.S. refugee affairs in Vietnam and previously director of the Cuban refugee program in the United States. After the end of World War II. Mr. Thomas worked iuccessfully for United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and International Refugee Organization in Germany where he was responsible for the resettlement of thousands of displaced persons. The new Director of ICEM is well known to those who have been associated with the activities of ICEM since 1952. as he served in Geneva as Deputy Chief of Operations of ICEM until 1963. In 1957 he was awarded the Joseph E. Chamberlain Prize by the New York Committee on Refugees. Since assuming the ICEM directorship in midFebruary. Mr. Thomas has had extensive meetings with permanent delegates in Geneva of ICEM member governments. leaders of various governments. the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and his officials. and with leading representatives of the various voluntary agencies who are active. in migration activities. I know that Members of Congress and friends of ICEM welcome John Thomas to his new position and wish him well in his commendable endeavor.