Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, responding to a White House emergency plea, were seeking action today on a long stalled administration bill to admit 240,000 refugees in the next two years.
Informed sources said President Eisenhower intervened personally after a resolution backed by Sen. Pat McCarran was adopted last week to prevent the committee from taking action before July 2. Chairman William Langer today called the Committee into a secret session on the petition of a majority of members who overrode the McCarran delaying tactic.
It was learned that President Eisenhower informed influential Republican Senators that the administration regards passage of the refugee measure as a vital device in U.S. psychological warfare operations aimed at encouraging anti-Communist elements in Soviet satellite countries. Eight members of the committee petitioned for immediate action.
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