LUTHERANS SUPPORT U.S. POLICY ON CUBAN REFUGEES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP66B00403R000200170128-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 7, 2006
• Sequence Number: 128
• Publication Date: February 3, 1964
• Content Type: OPEN

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A469
19 6J CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - APPENDIX
It is also a demonstration of the multiplier
effect which brings changes in hospital or-
ganization, administration, and teaching
techniques, resulting eventually in a better
health and economy for the nations visited
by the Hope.
EXTENSION OF REMARKS
OF
HON. RAY ROBERTS
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Monday, February 3, 1964
Mr. ROBERTS of Texas. Mr. Speak-
er, appearing in the January 30, 1963,
edition of the Denison (Tex.) Herald,
is a tribute to Fred Conn, publisher of
the Denison Herald for the past 19 years,
who resigned effective last month to as-
sume the position of publisher of the
San Angelo Standard Times.
Fred Conn served the north Texas
area with over 24 years of service with
the Herald, and his past performances
and new position reflect most adequate-
ly his record of service to Denison and
the people of north Texas.
Mr. Spggaker,` under unanimous con-
sent, I include the Herald's tribute to
Fred Conn:
HERALD'S FAREWELL TO PUBLISHER
The Denison Herald personnel share with
the community as a whole, perhaps in a
more personal and direct way, the loss of
a leader and friend that came yesterday
when Fred Conn said his farewells and left
for a new home and new field at San Angelo.
Conn had been linked with the Herald
management for 24 years, as publisher for
the last 19 years. His record of achieve-
ment here is underscored in many ways,
but in no instance more positively than by
his stepping up to the considerably larger
challenge as publisher of the, San Angelo
Standard-Times.
Much has been said during the last few
days in the way of farewells to Mr. Conn
and his family about his outstanding service
to Denison and this area. And much more
could have been said, as we who were closely
area Is destined for as great a future as its Dr. Empie said the National Lutheran
unity and cooperation will accommodate. Council is cooperating with the Lutheran
Mr. Conn took to San Angelo with him Immigration Service in a 2-year, $160,000 pro-
the earnest wishes of the entire Herald or- gram in 1963 and 1964 to help Cuban refu-
ganization-as well as the community as a gees in their efforts to resettle and/or inte-
whole-for newer and greater successes, grate "in a wholesome fashion" during their
And we underscore that wish with the as- stay in this country. .
surance that all of us on the Herald will Participating in the special project are the
two member bodies of the NLC, the American
Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church
in America, and the Board of World Relief of
the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The
bgard's director, the Reverend Werner Kuntz
Lutherans Support U.S. Policc-'Q Cub
Refugees .
EXTENSION OF REMARK
HON. VANCE HARTKE
OF INDIANA
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Monday, February 3, 1964
Mr. HARTKE. Mr. President, the re-
settlement of Cuban refugees is a prob-
lem to which many of our church de-
nominations have given much attention
and assistance. Among these are the
American Lutheran_ Church and the
Lutheran Church in -America, working
through the National Lutheran Council,
anc: the Board of World Relief of the
Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, which
is my own denomination.
I recently received a statement on
Cuban refugees from the office of Dr.
Paul C. Empie, executive director of the
National Lutheran Council, dealing with
the Cuban refugee resettlement problem.
The contents of that news release are of
sufficient importance that they should be
noted by -those who have a concern for
its solution.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous con-
sent that the statement of the National
Lutheran Council on its support'for Gov-
ernment efforts to speed resettlement of
Cuban refugees be printed in the Appen-
dix of the RECORD.
There being no objection, the state-
ment was ordered to be printed in the
RECORD, as follows:
LUTHERAN LEADER BACKS U.S. POLICY ON
CUBAN REFUGEES
associated with him here on the Herald NEW YORK.-Efforts by the U.S. Govern-
realize, ment to hasten the resettlement of Cuban
We were in a position to fully appreciate refugees received strong support here from
his dogged determination in championing a Lutheran Church leader.
what he believed was best for Denison. We Dr. Paul C. Empie, executive director of the
saw at close range the earnestness of con- National Lutheran Council, said the council
viction and purpose that motivated his ef- welcomes the Government's recent policy
forts in behalf of the community. statement on the $72-million-a-year relief
clearly defined goals in his administration ...... .r `., --
of of Herald affairs, large. and small. The ulti- It was announced that Federal aid to em-
mate decision inevitably , lay in what was ployable Cuban refugees in Miami will be cut
off next March 31 is they the best for the newspaper and the public cities refuse to relocate in
it served. Mr. Conn built into the. Herald where work k is available.
a new depth of influence and value as a Cuban By that date, all Miami the
community asset, which is the final j inte ustit- into Refugee Center in in Miwill be
rviewed and efforts made to place them.
cation for any newspaper's existence. Some 70,000 refugees have already been re-
We on the Herald are proud to accept this settled and it is estimated that half those
responsibility that now passes to Us-al- remaining should be relocated.
though we, quite frankly, are sobered by "The choice of a Cuban refugee to resettle
the realization of its weight. We pledge to an opportunity offered to him elsewhere, or
our adherence to the same policy of serving to remain in Miami without public assist-
Denison and this area as industriously, as ance, is a free choice," `declared John F.
faithfully, and as unselfishly as possible. Thomas, director of the U.S. Cuban
Leaving Denison was no easy decision for Refugee program under the Department of
Mr. Conn-not after he had -so intimately Health, Education, and Welfare. -
identified himself with this community's "it is a choice which must be made by each
welfare through the years. He earnestly individual and family," he added. "It is
believed that "the citizenship and leader- exactly the same choice which faces an Amer-
ship here is of the highest type" and that this scan citizen who becomes unemployed here."
by Dr. Empie.
Announcement of the Government's aims
was made in Miami on December 12 by Mr.
Thomas in a statement which, he said, "in-
dicates no change in program policy, but
rather a restatement of policy, in view of the
present stage of the refugee program."
"The goal of the Federal Government will
be to continue to be as helpful as possible
to every refugee to become a self-supporting
and contributing member of our society dur-
ing his exile," Mr. Thomas said.
"Together with the religious and nonsec-
tarian resettlement agencies we shall con-
tinue to place before each refugee, as his turn
for interview comes up, the opportunities for
resettlement in the area outside Miami. If a
person refuses and has no valid reason for
refusal he will be denied eligibility for eco-
nomic aid in Miami."
Mr. Thomas added that "this policy is
merely designed to encourage the refugee
who is caught in a vicious web of uncer-
tainty, dependency, and propaganda to face
the realities of life."
Dr. Empie noted that Mr. Thomas ex-
plicitly stated that thereare no punitive
motives in this policy, the setting of a target
date for the completion of interviewing does
not mean the closing of the Cuban Refugee
Center by March 31, and it applies only to
those who are not prevented from accepting
a resettlement opportunity by reasons of bad
health or physical handicaps.
"We believe," the Lutheran churchman
said, "that with appropriate flexibility in
dealing with exceptional cases and with a
sympathetic approach to the problem, these
safeguards should be ample protection for
those Cuban refugees who have valid rea-
sons for remaining in the Miami area."
Dr. Empie said he recognized the close
relation "between the goal of helping a refu-
gee to become self-supporting and a con-
tributing member of society and the neces-
sity of refusing to give him public aid if,
without a valid reason, he refuses to accept
an opportunity for self-support outside the
Miami area."
He also said "we can understand and sym-
pathize with the natural desire" of the
Cuban refugees to stay in an area where their
language is commonly spoken, where the
plimate is similar to that of their homeland,
and where, by telephone and radio, they can
keep in touch with developments in their
native country.
"At the same time, our experience in other
refugee programs leads us to the conviction
that the perpetuation of economic relief to
persons who are able to support themselves
and refuse to do so inevitably leads to moral
and social deterioration," Dr. Empie stressed.
"The experience of over 70,000 Cuban refu-
gees who have been resettled successfully in
other parts of the United States and who
love their country with undiminished devo-
tion and continue to speak on her behalf
wherever they may be, provides ample evi-
dence to support the judgment that the
policy stated by the director of the Cuban
Refugee program is both reasonable and con-
structive."
Dr. Empie asserted that "in view of the
political factors which surround thq Cuban
refugee situation," the statement issued by
Mr. Thomas "required a great deal of cour-
age on his part" when "the easier thing
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A470 C?NGRESiIONAL RECORD - APPENDIX February .i
would have been to let the matter drift to a wilderness. On the other hand, these Negev avoids the problems which would
avoid the recriminations which surely will Water3 are of no use to anyone holding arise if the project went through the de-
be heaped upon him" Syria" And so the international frost- militarized zone. But the problems pre-
The Lutheran leade 7 voiced the belief that tier (f Palestine was fixed east of the sented by the new plan are costly. The
Mr. Thomas "has demonstrated the com-
petence and responsttle leadership which we Jorde n and Lake Tiberias. original plan would have drawn water
expect of our Government officials" and Isr,ieI is already using 80 percent of its which was virtually salt free. But, de-
commended him for "facing up to his re- Lots.. water supply to irrigate cultivated cause of the salt springs on the floor of
sponsibilitles with su,ih intelligence and in- land. Almost all of the remaining :i0 Lake Tiberias, the water that Israel will
tegrity." percent comes from the Jordan. But in now draw from the Jordan has high
xis statement given us both incentive and the a outhern Negev, which is arab' e, salinity and must be mixed with ground
encouragement to continue to assist the there is no water. To irrigate this land, water from the coastal plain to make it
Cuban
avail able resourcesrerugees in to the the period extent of
whichic our h- Israe must move its northern water to suitable for irrigation.
during which-
able r
the program will continue," Dr. Emple con- the south-by canals, tunnels, and pipes. One thing should be kept clearly in
cluded. This is the system that will be put Into mind. Israel will not draw any more
opere Lion this spring. It is completely water from the Jordan than was allotted
withi a the guidelines of what Is knosm to her under the Johnston plan. In fact,
Israel Shows the Way to Regional as th ! Johnston plan. she will draw less. Israel will use only
Development This Is not a new scheme. The end- 1 percent of the 30 billion cubic meters
Wont. American conservationist. Dr. of water available to the Arab States.
EXTENSION OF REMARKS Jnrd.6'ri Valley Authority--something like the Arabs. They now threaten to divert
or our c wn TVA-in 1939, to use the Jord in the headwaters of the Jordan, cutting
HON. JAMES C. HEALEY for both power and irrigation. But the the flow of the river to a trickle. Even
Or Mw YORK Arabs went to war against Israel and the though such a diversion would be one of
plan had to be dropped. In 1953, how- the most expensive and surely the most
IN THE HOUSE OF* REPRESENTATIVES ever, Israel began work on Its own and impracticable engineering feat in his-
Monday, February 3, 1964 started to build a canal which would lead tort', they came to the astounding con-
Mr. > ALEY. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks to a hydroelectric plant and then move elusion at the Cairo meeting that this
ago the heads of the 13 Arab States met the v ?ater through a pipeline to the south, would be their answer to Israel's life-
in Cairo and when they concluded their The work was begun at Bnot Yaak?)v, giving program. And the worst of this
3-day summit meeting they released a whici is In a "demilitarized zone" and bizarre scheme is that the diverted
communique replete with invective Byrit. protested the canal's construction waters would, after all, again flow waste-
against gunfire. The issue went to the fully into the sea.
against the State s? Israel, U.N. Security Council. The work was Recently, Deputy Under Secretary of
and What was ominous act this ah of so-called agggression on the dangerous stState U. Alexis Johnson said that the
t hpi'ed while the United Nations stud.ed United States will ill ebme sto the
part of Israel which brought together way: of mollifying the Syrians. aid of "any tes d victim speedily
any would-
such enemies as Y.-men's President Sal- In 1953. President Eisenhower sent be of "any In n ede Middle East. would-
lal and Saudi Arabia's King Saud, Al- Amtassador Eric Johnston to the Mid- lso said that one of our fore.
geria's Ben Bella and King Hassan of die East. After 2 years of negotiations Johnson , most goals n also the that one of our
fore-
Morocco, Jordan's King Hussein, and Mr. Johnston was able to secure the
Gamal Abdel Naseser? It was the im- agreement of Israel and Arab technicians modation 'between I Israel and its
g ad to hen Ahab
minent completion of Israel's Jordan to a unified plan. Syria and Lebanon, nand eighbors I hope our am very glahoes a time
River development. project. Because of which need very little of the Jort..ait
their irrational hatred of Israel, the Rivt r waters, were allotted the srf.aIl in trying to implement this goal. I am
Arabs have adopted a dog-in-the-man- percentage they requested. Jordan was convinced that if we can get the Arabs
ger attitude toward. Israel's water pro- give.i all the water it needed to irrigate to sit with Israel and negotiate with her,
gram. They fight it and inveigh against the Irrigable land on its side of the the whole region would benefit to an
it, even though it would do them no rive:,-about 120,000 acres. Israel was extraordinary degree. With peace, there
harm. Israel will gain much-needed allotted what was left. could be not only regional water plans-
water for irrigation. The Arabs will lose Tat meant that 61 percent of the but regional cooperation in technology,
not one drop becat_se of it. watt r would go to the three Arab coin- medicine, and education-a real meeting
Actually, the Middle East does not lack tries and Israel would get about 39 per- of people's minds and an end to the
for water. It has, In some areas, plenty cen(. In addition, Israel was to bank arms race. There is a great potential in
of rainfall. Four of its rivers-the Eu- about 300 million cubic meters of wi.ter the Middle East that Is now being
phrates, the Orontes, the Litani and the to J )rdan's account in the Sea of Galilee, wasted-not only water.
Jordan-hold more than 30 billion cubic rele sing It in the dry season to be con- Mr. Speaker, my resolution, House
meters of water. But most of it is wast- vey"d to Jordanian lands east of the Resolution 447, proposes that the U.S.
ed. The water runs, unused, into the Jordan River. House of Representatives urge that the
sea. In the ratry season, torrents of Despite the fact that the figures :sad U.S. delegation to the U.N. support a res-
water flood northern Israel. but, uncon- bee~l suggested by the Arab technicians olution for direct negotiations between
trolled, they drain wastefully sway, and Israel accepted them only because of Israel and the Arab States as "an indis-
Many American statesmen and engi- her eagerness for an overall agreement, pensable condition toward the attain-
neers have long been interested in Arab politicians refused to ratify the ment of peace and cooperation and the
putting these waters to work, In 1918, plan. They would enter Into no agi'ee- settlement of all outstanding disputes
met nc that would benefit Israel in any between them."
when the mandates for Palestine and W&3. I urge our Government to work for re-
Syria were being negotiated. President gut even without an overall agree- gional understanding-an end to boy-
Woodrow Wilson proposed that Pales- meat, both Israel and Jordan have gone cotts, blockades, threats, and the build-
tine's northern border Include the Lit-aril ahead with separate plans consissent ing up of aggressive arsenals. It would
River. His recommendation was not ac- wit, Mr. Johnston's original propose:. seem that the Arab leaders decided at
cepted and so today most of the Litant Jordan has nearly completed Its l?;asst Cairo that the time to attack Israel is
River water, allocated to Lebanon, is Gh,tr Canal, utilizing most of the Yar- not now but I think it would be prema-
wasted, mu c waters. This $25 million project- ture for us to breathe a collective sigh
But Britain's Prime Minister Lloyd the United States Is contributing $19 of relief. If, when they feel strong
George insisted that the Jordan River mil Ion of it-will irrigate 30,000 acres enough, they-make any move toward ac-
and its sources be Within Palestine's anc: Jordan will increase Its acreage by tion against Israel, our Government must
borders. The waters of Palestine," he 25 ircent, resettling 3,000 families. make it clear that we will stand by our
said, are essential to its existence. :'he route Israel is taking to draw commitment to keep the peace in the
Without these waters Palestine would be waver from Lake Tiberias to irrigate the Middle East.
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