incident which happened in 1948-49. During those years Peru agreed and did admit 1,000 refugees from Trieste, among whom were two criminals. It is related that one of these refugees from Trieste committed murder and another grand larceny. This bad experience left the Peruvian Government with no appetite for large-scale immigration projects. However, it must be remembered that Peru has given its word to accept 1,000 Hungarian refugees and, up to the present, less than 50 have been admitted and those only to join relatives.

No Government assistance of any kind is available and, happily, none is usually required when the refugee is coming to join his family. The representative of one of the voluntary agencies, National Catholic Welfare Conference, reports that his organization has been trying to "create a favorable climate" for future immigrants and that he has been successful in gaining the tentative consent of Peruvian immigra tion officials to admit 20 German families a year, but that, so far, no Germans want to emigrate to Peru.

VENEZUELA

Richest of all the Latin American nations, and certainly one of the strongest military forces, Venezuela offers the best economic opportunities for refugees outside of the Dominican Republic. Internal conditions, however, tend to defeat the program. Venezuela offered to take 5,000 Hungarian refugees, but to date only 293 have been admitted, and a deteriorating economic situation as the result of the world unrest in petroleum precludes any accurate forecast as to just how many will be accepted.

There is a continuous flow of migrants to and from Venezuela and, here again, the Italian immigrants are preferred. The average Venezuelan has a very intense dislike for the Spanish immigrant. They say that the Spaniards come, bringing with them only their pride. having once been the conquerors of the country. In the first 6 months of this year, 15,578 Spanish immigrants were admitted, with 40 percent returnees. In general, the Hungarian refugee picture does not look too hopeful in Venezuela.

CONCLUSION

The Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration holds conferences in Geneva, Switzerland, in April and October of each year and these conferences are well attended by representatives from the Latin American countries. Invariably, at these conferences, these representatives speak in glowing terms of the land resettlement opportunities for immigrants in Latin America. Left unsaid is the fact that even if Government-owned land could be found, more than likely irrigation projects would have to be undertaken, roads built, houses, schools, and churches constructed. In short, an entire community would have to be built. In addition to this it is not clear whether the receiving country will bear any portion of this great expense, nor has it ever been made clear that any of these countries, even if the United States bore all this expense, would relinquish title to the land.

In brief, it may be stated that the Latin American countries, with the single exception of the Dominican Republic, not only have failed

to give financial aid to the Hungarian refugees, but are lacking in the following respects:

1. There is no governmental placement service of any kind. 2. There are no minimum wages.

3. There are no unemployment subsidies.

4. There is no information service or labor exchange of any kind.

5. Possibilities of employment in the interior of a given country are practically unknown in the cities.

6. In some cases the laws of the country discriminate against foreigners.

RECOMMENDATION

As to Hungarian refugees, until an understanding is had with the responsible government officials in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Venezuela, and the understanding has been reduced to writing, it is not desirable to encourage emigration of more Hungarians to those countries.

О

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE REFUGEE RELIEF
ACT OF 1953, AS AMENDED

98444

NOVEMBER 15, 1957

Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary

UNITED STATES

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1958

PURCHASED THROUGH DOC. EX. PROJECT

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

JAMES O. EASTLAND, Mississippi, Chairman