Speech #710259399

Stimson and his assistantsSenate Joint Resolution 207. December 15 to 18. inclusivehe will find that testimony bears out my point. I therefore rise upon the floor of this House to protest most emphatically against the action of a number of consuls of the United States in eastern and southern Europe. as well as other parts of the world. who have deliberately taken the position of refusing visas to prospective immigrants to the United States at any and all costs. Seemingly acting under instructions from the State Department or from the White House there is a wholesale refusal to issue visas to prospective immigrants upon the "staple" ground that the prospective immigrants are likely to become a public charge. In a radio speech which I made in New York several months ago I called attention to the fact that this refusal to issue visas on the alleged ground that the prospective immigrants are likely to become. public charges is the most insidious manner in which worthy applicants are refused to be admitted into this country. It is one of those cases where one is " damned " jf one does and "damned" if one does not. In each case the consul would ask the prospective immigrant whether he has a job awaiting him .in the United States. If the answer is yes. then the immigrant is refused a visa because he is a contract laborer. if the answer is no. then the immigrant is refused a visa because he is likely to become a public charge. In this manner it is the boast of our State Department that immigration has been reduced to almost nothing. and I suppose if this continues it will be necessary for us to pass no legislation curtailing immigration from Europe. because there will not be any left when our consuls get through with prospective immigrants in the various cities and towns of eastern and southern Europe and the rest of the country. And so the merry game goes on. In the most indirect manner possible the State Department or its consuls are assuming to legislate for the American people.