Report of Frank Chelf, Member of Congress, Democratic Member of the Fulton Special Subcommittee Which Was Designated by the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, House of Representatives, to Investigate the Displaced Persons Problem and International Refugee Organization in Germany and Austria

REPORT OF FRANK L. CHELF, M. C. DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF THE FULTON SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE WHICH WAS DESIGNATED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TO INVESTIGATE THE DISPLACED PERSONS PROBLEM AND INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ORGANIZATION IN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA October 13, 1947 On or about July 10 of this year, as a result of having heard all of the witnesses testify on the Displaced Persons Problem at the hearings before the Subcommittee on Immigration and Naturalization of the Judiciary Committee, I suggested to General Marshall that, in my humble opinion, it was just as imperative to rehabilitate and remove the scars of World War II from Europe's peoplo as it was to remove the scars from Europe's cities. In addition thereto I stated that the contemplated expenditure of millions of dollars under the Marshall Plan would all bo in vain if the Displaced Persons Problem remained to plague the nations and the peace of the world as a destructive malignancy. In July of this year, when such statement was made, I had not had the opportunity to personally investigate the Displaced Persons Problem as it exists today within the camps of the American and British Zones in Germany and Austria, but having just completed such a mission which has taken the Fulton Special Subcommittee on Displaced Persons into approximately two hundred camps where more than two thousand Displaced Persons were interviewed, I am moro convinced now than ever before that my previous statement to Socretary Marshall was correct. Before having completed a thorough study of the Displaced Persons Problem, I was of the opinion that the sixteen participating nations at the Paris Conference on the Marshall Plan should be requested to admit a fair share of thoso homeless Displaced Persons if they are to look to the United States for financial and economic assistance. It was my thought that special consideration in the way of economic assistance could be given to those sixteen participating countries who showed the most willingness and cooperation in granting refugo and citizenship to those thousands of home "NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND less Displaced Persons. RECORDS SERVICE Since having completed a through investigation of the Displaced Persons Problom by personally visiting the camps, I still believe that those who expect to accept economic and financial aid from the United States ought to reciprocate by giving succor and homes to these "citizens of the world." Regardless of my porsonal belief insofar as this particular matter is concerned, since the return of the Committee I agree and it is our unanimous opinion that the problem of tho Displaced Persons is an inter- national one and should, therefore, be forthwith submitted to the United Nations for immediato consideration and solution through the cooperation of the Interantional Refugoe Organization headed by that groat Amorican Mr. W. H. Tuck, in Goneva. In this problem, we are not dealing with war surplus materials, relaying mortar and brick, reconstructing mines, factories and bridges, but rathor WO are dealing directly with the rehubilitation and the reconstruction of the lives of over 1,000,000 human beings. For this reason, bold, definite, positive action on the part of the United Nations is imperativo if a solution is to be found. It is my further opinion that the fifty-seven members of the United Nations should put the Displaced Persons Problem at the top of their agenda. I believe that they should at a round table discussion agree to accept a definite pro rata quota, with the view that by such action, the entire number of the approximately 1,000,000 Displaced Persons can be allocated and distributed among them. It is my further bolief that those countries who now have SO called "recruiting tooms" in and among the Displaced Persons Camps should desist from such tactics because, obviously, such action upon their part tends to skim off the "croam of the crop". In practically every camp I visited I learned that interested nations sought to authorize immigration to young, healthy, intelligent, unmarried men and women botwoon the ages of 18 and 30. At the present time, there is no such thing as a so-called "hard core". However, if the present practice of recruitment is not immodiately abandonod, there will most definitely be a "hard core" of residue left which no nation could assimilate or digest. Preservation Copy