Speech #650318386

The question is. whether its language goes further than is desirable. I have read with approval the letter of the Secretary of State. which is made the basis of the committee report. The Secretarys letter. dated September 6. says: I am sure you will agree with me that It would work a serious injustice on the aliens who will doubtless return to their own country for military service under the provisions of these conventions if after the termination of the war they were to be confronted with the provision of the existing immigration law which would prevent their readmission to the United States because of wounds or other disabilities incurred in the line of service in the common cause. In other words. the Secretary of State wants to arrange by this legislation for the readmission 6f otherwise inadmissible aliens only if they shall. have incurred wounds or other disabilities in the line of service In the common cause. It is an extraordinary relief which the Congress of the United States proposes by this legislation to hold out to men who go abroad. who fight in foreign armlies. and who desire to return to the United States in spite of the provisions of our immigration laws. I believe it is a proper relief. but a relief which should be carefully safeguarded. Now. the question comes naturally and inevitably whether we shall extend this relief to everybody for every kind of disability which he picks up on the other side. or whether we shall limit the relief. as the Secretary of State desires. in favor of men who have been wounded or who have incurred disabilities in fighting for the cause which America has made its own.