lost during the war years and takes in approximately half of the hard-core nonrepatriable displaced persons. This is the least the United States can do for the valiant fighters for freedom, who today do not wish or cannot return to their homes of origin because they fear oppression for religious, racial, or political reasons. Sincerely yours, GEORGE MEANY, Secretary-Treasurer, American Federation of Labor. INDUSTRIAL UNION OF MARINE AND SHIPBUILDING WORKERS OF AMERICA, Washington 5, D. C., April 3, 1947. Mr. EARL G. HARRISON, New York, N. Y. DEAR MR. HARRISON: Your endeavor to secure emergency legislation to permit some of the displaced persons to enter the United States is highly commendable, and I hereby extend my wholehearted support to your worthy cause. No one can deny that the plight of these forgotten people is a most tragic one. As immigrants ourselves and as children of immigrants, we of the CIO are particularly aware of their unbearable condition. Having lived under the brutal tyranny of dictatorship and totalitarianism, the displaced persons can truly value the ideals of democracy and the principles on which this country was founded. The United States which has always helped the persecuted and oppressed should certainly continue doing so now by opening its doors to at least 400,000 displaced persons. In relation to our population, this is an insignificant number; in terms of helping these unfortunates, it means giving them a home and a new lease on life. Very truly yours, JOHN GREEN, President, Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America, CIO. STATEMENT BY DAVID DUBINSKY, PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL LADIES' GARMENT WORKERS UNION, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR. MARCH 3, 1947 On behalf of the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union I wish to take this occasion to add my support to the cause your committee has undertaken for the admission into the United States of 400,000 displaced persons of Europe during a period of 4 years. These unfortunates-Catholics, Protestants, Jews-bore the brunt of the Hitler terror and today have neither home nor country. Fearing religious, racial, or political oppression, they would rather suffer the many hardships of a detention camp than go back to their lands of origin. With its long-established tradition of offering asylum to the victims of persecution and intolerance, and as a leader in international affairs, the United States should make an emergency exception at this time to permit some of the displaced persons to immigrate to this country. They will gain and so will we-as it has always been the case in American history. CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS, Mr. EARL G. HARRISON, Chairman, National Citizens' Committee on Displaced Persons, New York, N. Y. DEAR MR. HARRISON: I take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the role that the Citizens' Committee on Displaced Persons is playing in the cause of world-wide humanitarianism. Civilization stands indicted of gross callousness when millions of persons displaced from their homes by the injustices and rigors of aggressive war are wandering shelterless over the face of the earth. America would be making only its minimum contribution to alleviate this state of affairs by admitting 400,000 of these displaced persons as your committee is requesting. Wholly aside from the moral factors involved, there is a practical aspect which Americans should consider. Our country needs the intelligence and the willing hands of many, many more persons if we are to achieve our expected goal in improving the earth for the use of all men. Conversely, it might be pointed out the continued insecurity of these homeless people constitutes a menace to the security of all nations. DEAR MR. HARRISON: I am deeply interested in the welfare of the 850,000 displaced persons presently living in Europe. I believe that deliberate indifference on the part of the democracies of the world is responsible for the condition of the individuals who are still homeless 2 years after the conclusion of the war. Because of our proud tradition as a haven for the oppressed, these unfortunates look to us for help. This help we can readily extend to them, as the United States is one of the few countries which has not been ravaged by war. As president of the Oil Workers International Union, CIO, I am in agreement with the aim of your organization; namely, to secure emergency legislation that would permit 400,000 of these displaced persons to enter the United States. Very truly yours, OIL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION, CIO, RESOLUTION No. 103 WHICH WAS ADOPTED BY THE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AND BARTENDERS INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE OF AMERICA'S CONVENTION IN APRIL 1947 Whereas 2 years after the war there are still some 850,000 displaced persons in European detention camps, 80 percent of whom are Christians and 20 percent are Jews, whom the Nazis sought to exterminate as people; and Whereas these survivors of Nazi concentration camps and of slave labor battalions cannot go back to their homes of origin because they fear oppression for religious, racial, or political reasons; and Whereas the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, and France have officially declared that no people would be forced to return to their homelands against their will, and the United Nations has endorsed the same principle; and Whereas it is the responsibility of the democratic countries to see that these persecuted people of Europe be given an opportunity to begin life again under circumstances which would permit them to become members of a civilized community and once more endeavor to establish a residence; and Whereas during the war it was virtually impossible for immigrants to come to this country and as a result the United States was deprived of 914,762 quota immigrants who could have legally entered this country under immigration laws that Congress passed in the 1920's; and Whereas the plight of the displaced persons is a humanitarian problem of the greatest magnitude challenging every fair-minded person; and Whereas the American Federation of Labor has always led in the work of human rights: Be it Resolved, That we the members assembled at the thirty-first general convention of Hotel and Restaurant Employees' International Alliance and Bartenders' International League of America, in line with the declaration on displaced persons unanimously adopted by the sixty-fifth convention of the American Federation of Labor approving "the immediate entry of immigrants composed of displaced persons in Europe which will permit the unfilled quota of the war period to be com pleted," go on record as favoring the admission into the United States of a fair share of displaced persons regardless of national origin; be it further Resolved, That without in any way modifying or altering the basic quota law regulating normal immigration, a temporary emergency exception be made which would enable 400.000 displaced persons to enter this country during a period of 4 years. STATEMENT OF MRS. J. L. BLAIR BUCK, PRESIDENT, GENERAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS, AT HEARINGS ON H. R. 2910 BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION Just a few days ago the General Federation of Women's Clubs-a national organization of 3,000,000 members-in convention assembled adopted the following resolution: "Whereas since VE-day 11,000,000 displaced persons have been repatriated but the remaining 850,000 who live in detention camps cannot be returned to their original places of residence and must be absorbed in countries where they will be welcome and can build a new life; and "Whereas they represent almost all religions, some 80 percent being Christians of various denominations and 20 percent being Jews; and "Whereas the United Nations established the International Refugee Organization to deal with the displaced persons' problem, but IRO cannot solve the problem unless immigrant-receiving countries make special provisions to receive a fair share of displaced persons; and “Whereas the United States Congress has passed immigration laws which permit a quota of 154,000 immigrants to enter this country annually; and "Whereas during the 1940-46 war period only 15 percent of the total quota was used, whereby the United States lost 914,762 people who could have entered this country legally and whom we were ready and prepared to receive; and "Whereas it has been estimated that 400,000 displaced persons legally screened. and whose devotion to liberty is vouched for would be a fair share to enter the United States, which would be less than half of the number of eligible entries that were not used during the war years; and "Whereas a population of 140,000,000 people can absorb several hundred thou sand displaced persons without straining the national economy: Therefore "Resolved, That the General Federation of Women's Clubs in convention assembled, June 1947, supports the principle and urges the passage of legislation pending in Congress which fulfills the proportional responsibility of the United States in its functional participation under the IRO to these thousands of homeless and suffering refugees of all faiths." The United States has always been regarded by the rest of the world as a refuge for the persecuted. We have traditionally prided ourselves on our idealism and humanitarianism. It is unthinkable that we, who have suffered least from the war, should now close our doors to the tragic and homeless victims of the greatest catastrophe in history. To do so would outrage Christian conscience. If we reject our clear responsibility to these people, what are the alternatives? (1) Forcible repatriation; (2) abandonment in the Axis nations; (3) continued maintenance in the DP camps, largely at our expense. We have already rejected the principle of forcible repatriation as repugnant to our democratic traditions. It would be cruel and unwise to throw these people back upon the wrecked economy of the Axis Nations-to expect them to live among a people responsible for the destruction of all they held most dear. To continue indefinitely to maintain the displaced persons in overcrowded camps is inhuman, solves nothing, and is an additional drain on the American taxpayer. It is to our interest to make it possible for these people to contribute to, not drain, our economy. We believe that the economy of the United States can easily absorb 100,000 refugees a year for 4 years. Manpower shortages still exist in the United States. Over 50 percent of the displaced persons are women and children, many of whom would not be job competitors. And for those women who might need work, there is certainly a demand here for domestic workers. The present situation is intolerable. People crowded together, without privacy, without hope, and without opportunity to rehabilitate themselves must, inevitably, deteriorate as individuals. Collectively they add to national frictions. Their restoration to normal, useful living is an essential step in the struggle to bring order out of chaos in Europe. Almost all our ancestors sought refuge here and they succeeded in building a great country. Possibly among these refugees will be those who, because of the hardships they have endured, will appreciate the opportunities which our free Nation offers-people who will contribute to the building of an even greater America. For the above reasons the General Federation of Women's Clubs earnestly urges the Congress to act promptly and favorably on H. R. 2910. CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Hon. EARL C. MICHENER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington 25, D. C., July 14, 1947. Chairman, Judiciary Committee, House of Representatives, Washington 25, D. C. DEAR SIR: There is enclosed a petition received from some of my constituents who urge passage of the Stratton bill, H. R. 2910. It will be appreciated if consideration will be given to their opinion, and I hope we may shortly expect favorably action on the bill by your committee. Sincerely yours, AUGUSTINE B. KELLEY, M. C. PETITION TO OUR CONGRESSMAN The undersigned citizens hereby appeal to you on behalf of thousands of Slovak refugees now living in Austria, Germany, Italy, and other European countries who face starvation with the elimination of UNRRA and other relief. They can be partially resettled with the passage of the Stratton bill (H. R. 2910) providing for the admission of our fair share of some 850,000 refugees scattered throughout Europe who have reason to fear Communist rule in the countries of their origin and who will make ideal American citizens. We pledge our cooperation in helping to resettle all Slovak refugees admitted if the above law is passed, in the conviction that they will not prove a burden on the United States and will be a sound investment in the fight which we are waging against world domination by communism and in the preservation of American ideals of freedom and democracy: Andy Levay, Beatty, Pa.; Joe Levay, Beatty, Pa.; S. A. Petrosky, Latrobe, Pa.; John Mehalie, Latrobe, Pa.; John Domanich, Latrobe, Pa.; Joe Luko, Latrobe, Pa.; S. J. Vincze, Latrobe, Pa.; Peter M. Petrosky, Latrobe, Pa.; Michael J. Smetanka, Latrobe, Pa.; Frank S. Smetanka, Latrobe, Pa. X |