Speech #700010660

I offered an amendment providing that clerks at United States consulates should be American citizens. I would go one step frthor now because of the information thlt I have received during the last year. I would prevent a naturalized citizen from serving as a clerk in an American consulate in the country of his birth. Since the enactment of the immigration laws American consuls have had a great deal more to do than they had theretofore--certainly much more than they had during my time 20 years ago. They have contact with literally thousands of people every week. This contact. in many instances. from the very nature of things. Is entirely with the clerks. We have had some very unhappy experiences. and the very first iinpression of an immigrant who is to come to the United States is with the American consul abroad. and nothingshould occur from that first contact which may give the future citizen of this country a wrong impression in respect to it. Different customs prevail in different countries. and what may be considered a legitimate gratuity in snhe foreign country is not permissible under oun- code of official ethics. We expect that public officials shall refrain from receiving any gratuity of an kind. and when you have a clerk whose view of these things does not entirely accord with our code. and he is placed in a position to come in contact with thousands of prospective immigrants. or at least has first contact with these prospective immigrants. in talking to them. and has it within his power to put one ahead of others. then we are encouraging the creation of a very dangerous situation. I notice now that under the bill they must be appointed as far as practicable under civilservice rule. That is one step forward. anyway. but it seems to me that the Committee on Foreign Affairs that has jurisdiction over Consular Service matters. and the Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations having in charge this bill. ought to take the matter under serious advisement between now and the next appropriation bill. and. if necessary. provide more money to be paid to these people.