Directive by the President on Immigration to the United States of Displaced Persons and Refugees in Europe

DIRECTIVE The grave dislocation of populations in Europe resulting from the war has produced human suffering that the people of the United States cannot and will not ignore. I am determined that this Government shall take every possible measure to facilitate full immigration to the United States under existing quota laws. The war has most seriously disrupted our normal facilities for handling immigration matters in many parts of the world. At the same time, the demands upon those facilities have increased many-fold. It is, therefore, necessary that immigration under the quotas be resumed initially in the areas of greatest need. I, therefore, direct the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, the Attorney General, the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, the War Shipping Administrator, and other appropriate officials to take the following action: The Secretary of State is directed to establish with the utmost despatch con- sular facilities at or near displaced person and refugee assembly center areas in the American zones of occupation. It shall be the responsibility of these consular officers, in conjunction with the Immigrant Inspectors, to determine eligibility of the applicants for visas and admission to the United States. For this purpose the Secretary will, if necessary, divert the personnel and funds of his Department from other functions in order to insure the most expeditious handling of this operation. In-cooperation with the Attorney General, he shall appoint as temporary vice-consuls, authorized to issue visas, such officers