Speech #620064154

So you will perceive. Mr. President. that step by step we secured the adoption of the new rule answering to the successive waves of immigration to our shores from different countries. The Irish immigration was set free by the treaty with England. the Scandinavian immigration was set free by the treaties with Sweden and Norway and Denmark. the German immigration was set free by the Bancroft treaties with the German States. The Hungarian immigration was cared for. together with the immigration of Croats and Slavs and other Austrian peoples. by the treaty with AustriaHungary. France and Italy in their treaties of commerce and navigation with us omitted the last clause as contained in Article X of the Russian treaty. and in their laws have recognized the right of emigration aid naturalization. The position to which the world was brought by this long course of diplomatic effort and achievement is well stated by a very celebrated Russian publicist. Air. Frederick de Martens. In his recent work entitled "Trait:6 de Droit International." I translate from the French. He says: With the exception of Russia. all the civilized contemporaneous States arc imbued with the conviction that the right of emigration is one of the inalienable rights pertaining to each citizen. and that every indlvidual is free lo change his nationality. This modificaton has taken place. thanks above all to the profound transformaton which has fol. owed in the present century the old political order. Liberty of emigra. tion Is the direct consequence of the new social and political order which has for its basis respect for the human personality and for the Interests which surround It.