Speech #710030716

History tells us there are seven or eight races involved. I have a profound admiration for the controlling element of the population in the British Isles. but we might argue and disagree as to whether it is due to the very large percentage of German and Scandinavian blood. or whether the Celtic race sliould have credit for the best qualities. or whether It is the old Romans to whom should be given the credit for the best foundation stock. Many Englishmen insist that the Normans gave them new stability and new energy. but the fact of the matter is. if we get an immigrant from a certain part of England he is one kind. and from another part he is another kind. No one will claim. for instance. that the Welsh and AngloSaxon are alike. Congress does not desire to arbitrarily fix the number of each country. on the other hand. Coi:gress believes it necessary to establish a rule that can be applied quite generally. With the adoption of the 1924 immigration law. a sincere effort was made to see if a plan could be worked out by which our immigration quota could be based upon the nationalorigins theory. A committee was created. consisting of the Secretary of State. the Secretary of Commerce. and the Secretary of Labor. who endeavored to work out a quota based upon this theory. which would also harmonize with the prescribed limitation in the immigration act. Several reports were made. I will refer to only one.