Sen. Pat McCarran changed in the Senate today that the Displaced Persons Commission tolerated fraud in the operation of the DP Act of 1948. The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee made these charges as the Upper House began debating a bill aimed at liberalizing the admissions policy of the United States in reference to displaced persons and refugees.
He again insisted that the present Act does not discriminate against Jews or Catholics and insisted that the out-off date of December 22, 1945–to which Jewish leaders object–should be retained. He asked the Senate to “tighten up” the system of admitting DP’s.
Sen. Harley M. Kilgore, speaking on behalf of 18 Senators sponsoring a substitute measure for the DP Bill reported out of committee by the Senate Judiciary, disagreed with Sen. McCarran. He said that the present Act is “flagrantly discriminatory,” adding: “The conscience of America is ashamed of our present niggardly, restrictive, and unfair DP law.”
Stating that the American spirit of fair play demanded action, Sen. Kilgore said that the leaders of religious, business, agricultural, and labor groups, agreed on the urgency of liberalization of DP legislation.
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