In determining the portion of the work for which the United States would make a contribution, it was originally thought that a fair share would be approximately one-third of the total cost of preservation, similar to the proportion of the American contribution to the total UNESCO budget. However, the proposed $2.5 million (26.22 percent of the total estimated cost) is considered an adequate contribution. 2. Archeological research, $1,500,000.-In the Sudan alone there are at least 100 unexplored sites, and much research remains to be done in the United Arab Republic which may provide important information regarding both the prehistoric and historic periods in Africa. In return for the assistance in the Nubian project, the Governments of the United Arab Republic and the Sudan have offered to cede, with certain exceptions, one-half of the finds to the parties conducting excavations. The United Arab Republic has also agreed to permit certain expeditions outside the threatened area in lower, middle, or upper Egypt. In addition, a large group of antiquities in Egyptian State collections will be offered to participating countries. No cost estimates have been made of the research projects possible in the area. Institutions wishing to send expeditions into Nubia may request permission of the governments concerned to work at specific sites. Simultaneously, the institutions will request the Department of State for a grant providing the local currency funds to finance their projects. The National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution will act in an advisory capacity, however, the grants will be made to approved institutions by the Department of State. The American institutions will be expected to provide whatever dollar expenses would be required. BASIS OF ESTIMATE The estimate of $1.5 million for assistance to American institutions for research in the United Arab Republic and the Sudan was made by the executive committee of the U.S. Committee for the Preservation of the Nubian Monuments, which consists of some 60 American Egyptologists and museum experts. Their judgment was based upon their knowledge of the work to be done in the Nubia and their knowledge of the ability of American institutions to undertake the necessary work. As American archeologists have not been permitted to work in the United Arab Republic for many years, the U.S. committee believes that the present opportunity, if supported through Government assistance in the form of Egyptian currency, may bring a revival in the United States of the very im portant field of Egyptology and provide an excellent stimulant for American work in prehistory. American scientists are prepared to contribute to this significant international effort to preserve knowledge of a significant stage of man's development. PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION BUILDING SITE PURPOSE AND NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS This proposed supplemental appropriation provides an additional amount beyond the 1961 appropriation of $875,000 for the building site of the Pan American Health Organization. This request results from a June 30, 1961, order of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia confirming the verdict of a jury which awarded compensation of $1,092,150 to the owners of the proposed site. Early appropriation action is requested to forestall any action to vacate the court judgment. JUSTIFICATION OF ESTIMATE PURPOSE AND NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION The amount requested of $217,150 is needed to meet the additional amount required to acquire land which is to be conveyed, without consideration, to the Pan American Health Organization for use as a headquarters building site. Reason for supplemental Public Law 86-395, approved March 28, 1960, authorizes the acquisition of the land, known as square 59, bounded on the north and south by Virginia Avenue and E Street and on the east and west by 22d and 23d Streets NW., and its conveyance, without consideration, to the Pan American Health Organization for use as a headquarters site. Pursuant to the above authority an amount of $875,000 was appropriated under Public Law 86-678, approved August 31, 1960, which was transferred to the General Services Administration under the provisions of the appropriation act. Negotiations to purchase the site at this price failed. It was therefore necessary for the Government to institute condemnation proceedings in order that full and just compensation for the property could be determined by a jury. On June 28, 1961, a district court jury handed down its verdict that full and just compensation for square 59 is $1,092,150. The court judgment confirming the award was signed on June 30, 1961. Unless the additional funds being requested are made available at an early date, action to vacate the court judgment may be instituted. Such action would prevent the Government from conveying the site to the Pan American Health Organization as authorized by Public Law 86-395 and would cause the Organization to reconsider moving its headquarters from the United States, with a consequent lessening of U.S. leadership and influence in the Organization. Furthermore, the Government's failure to carry out its commitment to provide the headquarters site authorized by the Congress would be detrimental to U.S. relations with Latin America. Computation of estimate The amount requested of $217,150 represents the difference between the amount already available for this purpose, $875,000, and the amount confirmed in the court judgment under condemnation proceedings, $1,092,150. Statutory authorization Public Law 86-395 approved March 28, 1960. REFUGE AND MIGRATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND PERFORMANCE STATEMENT The objectives of the refugee and migration assistance program are: (1) to enable the United States to participate in helping refugees, escapees, and similar selected persons in an effective manner whenever such assistance is determined to be in the interest of the United States, including the continua tion of activities of the U.S. escapee program (USEP), (2) to contribute to the assistance programs of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), (3) to maintain membership in and to contribute to the program of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM), and (4) to provide for administrative expenses to carry out these objectives. Refugees, escapees, and selected persons.-U.S. unilateral aid for refugees and escapees began in 1952 when the U.S. escapee program was established to provide reception, supplementary care and maintenance, resettlement support, and local integration to recent escapees from Communist countries in Europe and the Near East and to selected escapee groups and individuals in other areas of the world including the Far East. This unilateral effort serves U.S. interests by demonstrating the concern of the West for those who escape Communist oppression and seek asylum in the free countries of the world. Since its inception USEP has helped over 682,000 persons, resettling over 154,500 overseas and helping 320,000 integrate in a country of first asylum. Political unrest, oppression, and military action are creating the climate for other emergency refugee situations which will add to world tensions unless relieved. To further its foreign affairs objectives, the United States must participate in the solution of these unexpected problems in an immediate and effective manner. H.R. 8291 provides for the use of the contingency funds of the Act for International Development to meet unexpected refugee and migration developments. UNHCR.-The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1951 to provide for the legal and political protection of refugees. This mandate was developed with the problem of European refugees primarily in mind, and has been administered on that basis. The United States took leadership in the establishment of the UNHCR, consistent with its strong political and humanitarian interest in stabilizing the status of refugees from communism and other forms of persecution. Most of the free countries of Europe and many other countries have ratified the 1951 convention relating to the status of refugees, which is the effective instrument for realizing the objectives of the UNHCR Office. The present UNHCR material assistance program provides reestablishment assistance, including rehabilitation of a large percentage of handicapped cases, to European refugees in Europe and the Near East, to Jewish refugees in Europe from the United Arab Republic and to European refugees from Communist China exiting through Hong Kong. United States appropriations of $1.2 million in 1959 and $1.1 million in 1960 for contribution to this program were matched by contributions from other governments of $2.4 million and $2.249 million, respectively. In addition, the UNHCR, in conjunction with the League of Red Cross Societies, provides relief to Algerian refugees in Morocco and Tunisia. ICEM. The Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration was organized on U.S. initiative in Brussels in 1951. The membership has grown from the 15 original governments to 30, including 10 Latin American governments. ICEM was originally established to facilitate the movement of indigenous migrants and refugees from certain countries in Europe facing pressures of population and the movement of refugees to oversea countries which offered opportunities for the absorption of manpower. Although the economies of some of the emigration countries in Europe (notably Germany) have improved, the economic situation in the Latin American countries has worsened. These countries need assistance in securing skilled and semiskilled workers. Certain other countries, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, need manpower to support their developing economies. Austria, Greece, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands still have larger populations than their economies can absorb. In addition, Belgium, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain are faced with the necessity of relocating and reestablishing their nationals who are returning to their countries from oversea areas, particularly from Africa. Administrative expenses.-This provides for all of the expenses necessary to carry out the program objectives, including the program personnel expenses and reimbursement to "Salaries and expenses, State" for the cost of administrative :support provided to the program. GENERAL NARRATIVE STATEMENT The request for fiscal year 1962 is to provide for the continuation of refugee and migration programs which have previously been authorized and funded through the mutual security program as authorized by the Mutual Security Act of 1954, as amended. The President's letter of July 21, 1961, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate transmitted proposed legislation designed to centralize the authority to participate in or to conduct refugee and migration assistance programs and to appropriate funds to support programs of assistance to refugees, escapees, migrants, and selected persons. This legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives as H.R. 8291 to amend the act of July 14, 1960, enabling the United States to participate in the resettlement of certain refugees, and for other purposes. Almost every day the free press of the world carries stories of refugees and escapees fleeing from Communist oppression, political disorders or military action. As long as present conditions exist throughout the world, this flow of refugees will continue, with the ever-present possibility of its increasing to flood proportions as it has this year in Berlin, and often erupting suddenly in unexpected areas as it did in 1956 during the Hungarian revolt, in 1959 when the Tibetans fled to India and Nepal, and in 1961 in the Congo. The purpose of this bill, as indicated in the President's letter, is to enable the United States to deal effectively with both continuing and emergency situations to show U.S. concern for the oppressed and homeless and to advance U.S. interests by easing tensions in areas of critical importance to world peace. In dealing with refugee situations, the United States will continue to supplement the efforts of other governments and of other organizations active in this field. It will also utilize fully other existing U.S. programs such as the programs under title II and title III of Public Law 480 and the development projects conducted by the International Cooperation Administration. Funds included in this appropriation request are to provide for the continuation of U.S. membership in and contributions to the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM), for contributions to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), for the continuation of the U.S. escapee program (USEP) and for similar programs for other refugees and selected persons who, the President may determine from time to time, should be helped in the interest of the United States. It does not make provision for assistance to such groups as refugees from Palestine-a program closely allied to the problems of economic development in the Near East and, for that reason, are included in the foreign aid legislation. (The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare is presenting the justification for their appropriation to assist Cuban refugees.) H.R. 8291 also authorizes the President to utilize up to $10 million in any one fiscal year under section 451 of the Act for International Development of 1961 in order to meet unexpected refugee and migration problems, when he determines that such action would be important to the national interest. Recent refugee situations which have developed into problems affecting U.S. interests include the Tibetans in India and Nepal, Angolan and Baluba refugees in the Congo, Meo tribe refugees in Laos, the Khmer Krom refugees in Cambodia, Cuban refugees in Central and South America, and the Algerian refugees in Morocco and Tunisia. As indicated above, the United States pursues its continuing objectives in the refugee and migration field primarily through the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Department of State's U.S. escapee program (USEP). These agencies all work closely together and coordinate their activities at headquarters and country level. ICEM facilitates the oversea movement of refugees and migrants; the UNHCR concentrates on providing legal and political protection to refugees within his mandate, establishes older refugees who must remain permanently in their present countries of asylum and aids Algerian refugees and refugees from the United Arab Republic; USEP aids the most recent escapees from communism who are of special political significance in our ideological contest with the Eastern bloc. Funds for each of these organizations come from different sources. Thirty member governments particularly interested in migration contribute to the budget of ICEM. Twenty five members of the United Nations support the UNHCR. USEP is funded by congressional appropriations as a unilateral U.S. program serving specific U.S. priority interests. By participating in and contributing to the UNHCR and ICEM, the United States gives leadership to the combined efforts of other governments and encourages the application of their resources and contributions to the relief of the total worldwide refugee and migration problem. USEP, through its program for the reestablishment of new escapees, promotes the maintenance of liberal asylum policies throughout the free world. 1 Includes $230,000 unobligated balance transferred from "Escapee program, executive," pursuant to section 12 of H.R. 8291. ? Includes $1,000,034 unobligated balance transferred from "Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration, executive," pursuant to section 12 of H.R. 8291. REFUGEE AND MIGRATION ASSISTANCE, REFUGEES, ESCAPEES, AND SELECTED PER- 1960 actual_ 1961 estimate. 1962 estimate. Increase or decrease__ $6, 341, 735 3, 516, 000 2, 884,000 -632, 000 The United States is engaged directly and through participation in pertinent international organizations in continuing efforts to resolve the political, economic, and humanitarian problems posed by dependent refugees and escapees throughout the world. The impact of all of these refugees and escapees on the strength and stability of the countries of the free world is of immediate concern to the United States. However, among these people are certain groups or individuals in whom the United States has a special interest; these interests usually are best served by a direct U.S. program. These direct U.S. assistance programs take various forms depending on the nature of the refugee problem and of the specific U.S. interests involved. The U.S. escapee program The U.S. escapee program (USEP), a direct or unilateral program completely U.S. financed, will have reached its 10th anniversary during 1962. Established to bring U.S. aid directly to people fleeing from Communist domination, the program has already assisted over 682,000 individual escapees and has been a major factor in establishing the role of the United States in demonstrating its friendship both for the people escaping from Sino-Soviet countries, and in maintaining hope for those who remained behind. Despite the influx of over 200,000 Hungarian escapees in 1956 and 1957, the reestablishment of the large backlog of escapees which had accumulated in Europe since 1948 and before, has been virtually completed. The bulk of these people have been helped to find new homes and to begin again to lead useful and productive lives in the free world. By the beginning of 1962, it is estimated that only 5,973 refugees will remain on the USEP caseload in Europe and the Middle East. In 1962, USEP will continue to concentrate on its primary purpose of assisting the most recent escapees. The reduction of the caseload to manageable numbers will permit the intensification of individual aid and the acceleration of reestablishment of the current escapees. |