Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-08
Our Escopee Program

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/ am writing with reference to q
letter that appeared in this space on
August 10. ii which the writer. Alan
e. Strom, lamented this country's s'lack
of interest" in the refugees who are
escaping from behind the Iron Curtain
and our failure to develop program
aimed directly at the Communist
Achilles heel" Of which these escaping
thousands are symptom. would like
to direct q few remarks to this subject
which I hope viii be of some reassur-
ance to Mr.. Strom and others who
share his concern over our country's
conduct Of this aspect Of the so-called
cold war in which we have become
engaged.
Since before the outbreak of World
War II, this country has reacted
promptly and without restraint to help
those who are victims either Of war or
Of the political and economic oppres-
sion of totalitarian rule.
The work carried on by the Inter
governmental Committee for Refugees
lIGCR), which was established In 1898
and helped find homes for hundreds
Of thousands who fled Nazi persecution
in Central Europe, was followed by the
wartime and postwar programs of the
United Nations Relief and Rehabilita-
ton Administration (UNRRA), the In
ternationaI Refugee Organization
(IRO), and the u. S. Displaced Per-
sons Commission (DPC). to mention
only the more widely known efforts Of
this type, which helped meet the needs
of war and postwar refugees totaling
well over 10 million.
Against this background, 1t would
indeed have seemed surprising and
had suddenly abandoned the principles
which motivated this activity and had
turned our backs on the refugees OF
the cold war: the Iron Curtain es-
capees. That this would not happen
was made abundantly clear, however,
when this country established the
United States Escapee Program for the
specific purpose Of helping those who
have fed the tyranny in their home
lands behind the Iron Curtain to seek
haven in the West. Through the es-
capee program the United States acts
in concert with the governments in the
free countries adjacent to the Iron
Curtain, where the escapes are
granted first asylum, and with private
welfare organizations, first to meet the
immediate personal needs Of the es-
capees after their arrival, and second,
to secure their early reSettlement in
areas that afford opportunities for
them to become reestablished as pro-
ductively employed participants in the
0rJI thic nvad
assistance projects are undertaken to
provide food, clothing, shelter and
medical care for the escapes. most OF
whom arrive destitute and sometimes
in need of emergency medical or surgi-
cal care as a result Of injuries in
CURED during their escape.
While these pressing first needs are
being met, steps are taken to bring
about resettlement. Visa processing is
begun; dossiers are drawn up to pro-
vide the various documents required
for emigration; counselling services
are provided to help the escapes find
resettlement opportunities which are
suited TO their background. language.
and vocational skills. Lastly. transpor-
tation is provided SO that the escapes
arrive in their resettlement countries
debt free.
! Since the establishment Of the es-
capee program in 1852, some $4,000
escapes have been resettled. primarily
in the United States. Canada, South
America and Australia. An additional
10000 are receiving assistance in the
asylum countries Of Europe prepara-
tory to departure for resettlement, and
new escapes are registered for pro-
gram assistance as they arrive.
This program demonstrates simply
and unequiyocally our faith in those
who choose the side of freedom and
our friendship and concern for those
who risk so much to escape Communist
tyranny. Moreover, there is ample evil
dence that, as result Of Voice Of
America and Radio Free Europe broad
casts and through grapevine channels,
there is widespread knowledge behind
the Iron Curtain that those who es-
cape to the West are not only granted
political asylum, but with the help Of
the eScapee program are welcomed,
cared for, and offered an opportunity
to lead free and worthwhile life.
In COucluQlug, SQOulu Ike 70 cIu-
phasize that most important Of all to
an escapee is an opportunity to enter
a country where he can secure employ
ment and become self-supporting
member of his community. The Refugee
Relief Act which was passed last year
offers just such opportunities. The act
provides 100000 special Nnon-quota
United States immigration visas for
refugees and Iron Curtain escapes. To
qualify, however, an escapee must have
an assurance from an American citizen
that housing and employment will be
available to the escapee who, in all
probability, has neither friends nor rel
atives in America.
Dorothy d. Houghton,
Assistant Director, Office for Re-
fugees, Migration and Voluntary
Assistance, Foreign Operations
Administration.