Speech #710006278

I resent very much the charge that those who are Insisting upon a postponement or repeal of the nationalorigins clause are enemies of restricted immigration. Such is not the case at all. The nationalorigins clause of the imrrmigration act would restrict immigration beyond the restrictions now called for in so limited a degree that it would not have any severe consequence at all. At the present time. under our immigration law. approximately 164.000 immigrants from foreign lands are being admitted each year. under the nationalorigins clause 152.000 would be admitted. so that the proposed reduction would not be material. The nationalorigins proposal is not in principle a further restriction measure in any sense of the term at all. I have a great deal of sympathy for those who are endeavoring to base immigration upon the earlier population of the country. in other words. to fix imnigration quotas upon the basis of our population as constituted at this time. an altogether desirable purpose. but there are those of us who have not been sufficiently well convinced that it Is possible to follow out that theory with any degree of accuracy. with any degree of fairness. Instead. and quite to contrary. it would be quite inaccurate. it would be quite unfair. and would. as the President has declared. work a very severe hardship upon people. many of whom constitute the very finest. class of immigration which has come to this land. There has been a further misrepresentation made which has had a very telling effect upon a great many people whose sympathies and purposes and prejudices sometimes come into play in considerations of this kind. The claim is madeat least the impression has been conveyedthat under the nationalorigins clause. if immigration fron any part of Europe would be restricted. it would be that coming from southeastern Europe. Mr. President. that Is as false as false can be. Under the basis of immigration. accordiug to the nationalorigins plan. immigration from southeastern Europe would not be restricted further than it is restricted at present. Instead. the countries of southeastern Europe could send to this country every year from two to three times as many as they are permitted to send into this country under the prevailing immigration law. Those who would suffer by virtue of the nationalorigins clause becoming effective would be the people of northern Europe. the people of Ireland. of Norway and Sweden. and Germany. those countries which in times past have contributed the finest element of our immigration. I dare say. It is not my purpose. and it is not my desire. to indicate a wish with relation to immigration quotas to build them upon any national prejudice whatsoever. That is not my purpose. and I shall try to refrain from it. but the false impression to which I have referred has been given out so freely over this land as to what the nationalorigins plan would do that I felt it quite necessary that I make" that much of a statement at this time. I should like to ask the Senator from Alabama if he will not permit a vote upon the resolution this morning?