Congress Criticized by State Dept. Official on Immigration Issue

Asking “what of the Jews of Egypt?” a high State Department official said last night that “pleased as we may be” about American accomplishments in meeting migration problems, the broader world picture deserved constant emphasis.

The official was Robert S. McCollum, State Department Administrator for Refugee and Migration Affairs. He said that “as long as oppressive dictatorships exist, as long as basic freedoms are denied, there will be people who flee to seek better lives and, thereby, create new refugee problems.” He called for longer-range planning. He spoke before a dinner meeting of the American Committee on Italian Migration.

Mr. McCollum characterized the response of Congress to President Eisenhower’s appeal for revision of the present immigration laws as “very slow.” He said there was “no effective action” from Congress. Naming outstanding Americans of Jewish and other backgrounds, Mr. McCollum said “the tradition of the melting pot cannot be abandoned.” This tradition, he stated is “endangered by the failure of Congress to act on the President’s recommendations.