Speech #670341270

Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee. now that we are on this immigration subject. I want to call the attention of the members to a movement now on foot in reference to a lowering of our immigration bars in oider to meet the deplorable situation in the Near East growing out of the recent conflict between Greece and Turkey. There are thousands of refugees. and the suggestion has been made that over in Europe that not only these refugees but that thousands of others should be sent to America. It has even been proposed that portions of Turkey be depopulated of Greeks and Christians and that all of them be sent over here at our expense. Such a proposition would necessarily involve a setting aside of our present immigration restrictive legislation involving what Is known as the 3 per cent quota law. The condition of these unfortunate people Is such that it is not to be wondered 1922.. at that this suggestion has been made here in America. and that there is more or less agitation today for a modification of this law to meet the situation. This country as a Christian nation is not without its responsibility in the premises. However. if we should make an exception to meet this situation it would thereupon become a precedent that we would be asked to follow in every situation where any country. either for political. racial. or religious reasons. persecuted any minority group in that country. If we should adopt this as a principle. it would mean that any foreign country could force a minority group upon us that they did not happen to like by persecuting or mistreating them. The Committee on Immigration in the House is giving some real thought and consideration to this matter. and it seems to me that the people of this country ought to withhold judgment upon that until they have had the benefit of the recommendations of that committee. We must bear in mind that there is a limit in the power of assimilation and that this country has already not only reached that limit but gone beyond it. This fact therefore should be most thoroughly considered while we are also considering the other proposition as to what shall be done with these most unfortunate and mistreated refugees of Armenia and other portions of Asia Minor. Mr. Chairman. my interest in immigration matters is well known in this House. and I think we would be making a grave mistake if we should follow the recommendations of the Bureau of the Budget and overrule the estimates of the Bureau of Immigration and also cut down the amount they had this last year. I want to call your attention to the hearings from page 251 on. and to some of the specific statements made by those who know something about immigration. We have heard from the members of the Committee on Immigration here In the House who unanimously desire to maintain this appropriation intact at not 1 cent less than it was this last year. As against that we have the recommendation of the Committee on Appropriations enforced by the estimates from the Bureau of the Budget. But the Appropriations Committee is necessarily confined to two sources of informationthe estimate from the Bureau of the Budget and the statements from the Bureau of Immigration in support of those figures. Now. I submit that the Bureau of the Budget do not know anywhere near as much about this immigration question as tme Members of Congress who have wrestled with it time in and time out upon the floor of this House. We passed the quota law because we wanted to restrict Immigration into this country. We know the way the law is being violated. We know how persons are being smuggled across the border.