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U.S. Urged to Follow Australian Example in Admitting Refugees

August 17, 1947
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“The United States should follow the example set by Australia and accept itsfair share of displaced persons, said Earl G. Harrison, chairman of the Citizens Committee on Displaced Persons, today commenting on the announcement by Arthur A. Calwell, Australian Minister of Immigration, that his country was seeking shipping space to transport immigrants from Europe.

“With fewer resources, less adequate housing and less developed economic machinery, Australia is actively seeking 12,000 displaced persons a year for an indefinite number of years,” Mr. Harrison declared. “Yet we of the United States, with our tremendous area and resources are quibbling over legislation to admit 100,000 displaced persons a year for four years.

“We are abandoning our world leadership and becoming the object of world derision by allowing smaller nations to take the lead in such great humanitarian projects as resettlement of the displaced persons.”

Mr. Harrison predicted the inevitable passage of the Stratton Bill which would allow the emergency entry of displaced persons into this country at the rate of 100,000 annually for four years.

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