Speech #770032519

At Le Havre I met many and saw hundreds of American families. fathers and mothers and sons and daughters. some of the families with young children. They were naturally very much disturbed and distressed at finding it impossible to secure accommodations upon the ship flying the American flag. having been advised by the officials of the shipping line that there was no space available aboard the particular ship for their return to their respective homes in the United States. I was advised. and can without hesitation certify. to the accuracy of the information. that that condition was attributable to the fact that space aboard that ship had been purchased. prior to the sailing of the ship itself. by noncitizens of the United States. by aliens. by refugees. I must confess in perfect frankness that the shipping line was not actually in position to bring about the cancelation of those passages. which had been paid for. and consequently there were aboard that vessel plying across the Atlantic to the harbor of New York in our country several hundred aliens. 90 percent of whom could not speak the English language. persons who came here as refugees. and many who were coming to escape what they thought was going to take place in Europe during the ensuing war. Mr. President. I think that Americans who are abroad. regardless of the port in all the world at which they may be assembled at this hour seeking return to their native land should be provided preference by the Government of the United States through a mandatory instruction to the effect that where there are Americans anywhere seeking return to the United States aboard a ship flying the American flag. they shall be first accommodated and that the passage of aliens or refugees shall be canceled. In view of the fact that we are providing subsidies of millions of dollars to shipping lines flying our flag. I certainly think American ships should be caused to provide space for American citizens in preference to providing space for refugees and aliens. who are flocking to this ccuntry by the thousands upon thousands every single month of the calendar year. Mr. President. I believe that certainly this body and the other branch of the Congress of the United States should pause to give just a little attention to the interest and the care and the protection and the accommodation of American citizens. If we can pause long enough to give a little attention to citizens of the United States. whether they are native born or naturalized. I believe that the American people will appreciate it. They recognize that a great deal of our attention has been centered and concentrated upon saving the inhabitants of other countries of the world. and I am sure that if we would take just a little interest in American citizens. and provide a little legislation in their behalf. the American people would be grateful.