Speech #780106357

It is conceded by everyone that this legislation will give the Chinese no material assistance. Its value is purely psychological and esthetic and it is very difficult to appreciate the esthetic things of life on an empty stomach and equally difficult to fight a war without adequate guns and supplies. The question of whether our general Immigration policy needs revision is going to be one of our most perplexing postwar problems and Congress should not attempt to deal with it piecemeal while the war is still in progress. Furthermore. I think it is desirable to await the return of our soldiers and sailors who are fight�ing on all of the world battle fronts before embarking on a radical change in our immigration laws. We ought to have the benefit of their judgment and advice based upon the experience they have gained in contact and association with peoples of other nations. We can be sure that they will have some definite and positive ideas on this whole general subject which will deserve. and should have. the serious consideration of Congress before definite conclusions are reached. What is the real urgency of making this drastic change in our rules of immigration now? Those who favor this legislation say it should be passed now because it will accomplish two very important and necessary objectives. namely. that it will cement our relations with China and make her more friendly to us in time of mutual peril and. that its passage will deprive the Japanese of a potent propaganda weapon to the effect that we discriminate against China in favor of other allies insofar as immigration and naturalization are concerned. I submit. Mr. Chairman. that this legislation will not accomplish either of these objectives and that it is dangerously unsound to say it will do so. In the first place. this bill does not give the Chinese equality on immigration with any European nation. So. when you talk about being fair to China by giving them immigration:equality with our other allies the present bill is not the answer. for it very definitely discriminates against the Chinese in the following manner: Europeans may enter this country as nonquota immigrants if they were born in another country. For example. an Englishman born in South America comes to the United States as a nonquotaimmfgrant whereas. a Chinese born in South America would be charged to the Chinese quota. Thus. you compel the Chinese to come here by race and permit Europeans to come on the basis of nativity.