Emigration from Europe

Report Outline
Concern Over Migration Opportunities
Resettling of Displaced Persons and Refugees
Population Pressures and Overseas Migration
Promoting Migration by International Action
Special Focus

Concern Over Migration Opportunities

Convening of Conference on Migration at Brussels

New measures to facilitate migration from Europe are being considered at a special international conference now in progress at Brussels. Delegates from 23 countries, including the United States, met Nov. 26 to seek agreement on a short-term plan to provide continuing facilities for the emigration of refugees and to increase the movement from Europe of other persons for whom adequate employment opportunities are not available there. Immediate action is necessary because the International Refugee Organization is scheduled to go out of existence at the end of the year. It is hoped that the conference will establish a new interim agency to keep in operation a dozen ships, specially equipped for migration purposes, which are to be relinquished by I.R.O.

The United States played a leading role in arranging the Brussels conference. Transportation to this country must be assured in the coming months for several thousand persons, mostly ethnic German expellees who are still eligible for admission under the Displaced Persons Act. In addition, the United States has a very real interest in the long-term problem of refugees and in other European migration problems. Political as well as humanitarian considerations require the maintenance of resettlement opportunities for Iron Curtain nationals who are encouraged by American propaganda to flee to the West. Greater migration of underemployed manpower from certain European countries, moreover, is of general concern to the United States as one possible means of helping Western Europe to achieve permanent social and economic stability.

Action of Congress on European Migration Problem

Members of Congress have taken an active interest in measures relating to European emigration. In extending the Economic Cooperation Act in 1950, Congress added an amendment on European manpower, offered by Rep. Walter (D., Pa.) of the House Judiciary Committee. The Walter amendment urged the Marshall Plan administrator to encourage emigration from participating countries having permanent surplus manpower to areas, particularly underdeveloped and dependent areas, where such manpower can be effectively utilized.”