Speech #720027081

I am not drawing on my imagination when I say that the bill is very seriously regarded by foreign nations. In the hearings which are on the desks of Senators. on pages 3. 4. and 5. may be found selections from protests which have been made by foreign nations to the State Department. The Belgian Government in a communication stated that "the apparent aim" of this legislation to impose regulations in immigration matters is actually something which goes "contrary to certain customs generally accepted in international law." They state. very courteously. "that tts application would create the most serious difficulties for Belgian ships frequenting United States ports." Mr. President. it is generally held by the proponents of this legislation that it is intended to keep off the ships in the Pacific aliens from Asia who are not admissible to American citizenship. and that it will not affect our trade with Europe. yet we find the Belgian Embassy protesting that it will present "the most serious difficulties" for Belgian ships. The Canadian Government objects and calls attention to the fact that "the proposals would result in drastic interference with the composition of crews of foreign vessels in United States ports.