Speech #640067287

I will admit. It has been discussed for years and years and years. It was originally the Littauer amendment of 10 years ago. and I think that those who then advocated this religious exemption from the literacy test were willing to confine .it to persons who were "solely" trying to escape religious persecution. in that form we agreed to it. Now it is proposed to exempt from the literacy test anybody who claims to be fleeing from religious persecution. no matter what other motives he may have for coming to this country. Under the wording of the bill this persecution may be evidenced by overt act or by laws or by governmental regulations. Now. unless you put in the word "governmental" before "overt act." here is the situation you are going to have. Take the case of the Armenian at the present day. We get a large Armenian immigration into this country. There is a large one into my own district. by the way. Most of it is good. some of it is not so good. These Armenians are being persecuted by the Turks. They are Tbrkish subjects and there is no question that there is persecution going onreligious persecution. Supposing some Armenian comes to this country and says to the Immigration inspector. " Some Turks have been persecuting me on account of my religious belief." then. if he can convince the inspector. that Armenian can claim admission whether he can read or not. I am not in favor of exempting people from this literacy test on account of alleged religious persecution. However. if you are going to put in an exemption at all. for heavens sake make it clear that it is an overt act on the part of the Government which the exemption contemplates.