Speech #780170416

When Hitler began his campaign for extermination of the Jews of Europe. many were able to escape by going into Palestine. and Palestine still remains for many the one oasis of hope and settlement. But the fact that the powers that be have closed the gates of Palestine should not make us close our eyes to the very need of the Jews of the world. particularly all those in the Hitleroccupied areas of Europe. tc find some place to which they might go in this emergency. And so I introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives on September 14. 1S43. which stated the following things: House Joint Resolution 154 Joint resolution to provide for the temporary admission into the United States of political or religious refugees from the Axis Nations Whereas it Is common knowledge that countless thousands of innocent persons. of all racial and religious denominations. in many of the countries of continental Europe have been mirdered or otherwise ruthlessly persecuted by the Axis Nations. and Whereas it Isaccepted by wellinformed people that unless something is done within the next few months. which months will embrace winter. countless more thousands will be murdered or otherwise ruthlessly persecuted. and Whereas under the present existing immigration laws. unlike the limitation on the number of persons who may come to the United States permanently as Immigrants. there is no such limitation on the number of those who may come temporarily. and Whereas under present practices of administrative officials but very few persons are permitted to come to the United States temporarily or otherwise. and Whereas ocean transportation of persons coming to the United States can be made available on returning transports: Therefore be it Resolved. etc.. That it is hereby declared to be the sense of the Congress that immediate temporary relief should be granted to those unfortunate people and it is therefore urged that an administrative policy be adopted to admit to the United States for a period not exceeding 6 months after hostilities have ceased between the Allied and Axis Nations such persons now residing in continental Europe who desire to come to the United States and who can establish to the satisfaction of any American consul before whom they may appear that they are bona fide political or religious refugees: Provided. however. That it is further the sense of the Congress that no persons should be admitted. in accordance with the spirit of this joint resolution. if they are afflicted with any loathsome. dangerous. or contagious diseases. have criminal records of crimes involving moral turpitude. or whose presence in the United States would endanger the public safety of the United States or otherwise be inimical to the best irterests of the United States. It is is further urged as being within the spirit of this joint resolution that as time is strictly of the essence in the success of the purpose of the joint resolution. the Secretary of State and the Attorney General are urged to issue their joint regulations to carry into effect the purpose of this joint resolution just as soon as it is possible following the passage of the joint resolution. What I propose to do under this resolution is to save as many human lives as can be saved within the framework of our immigration laws. While much can be said concerning our future immigration policy. there is no question that restrictions of immigration and limitations of immigration have been clearly written into our legislation and there is no question but that our future immigration policy will continue to be based on selective immigration. It is therefore impossible to do anything by way of increasing the number of permanent immigrants who might be admitted from Europe from the Hitler ridden countries. I still hope that Palestine will not be closed as a haven for Jews persecuted all over the world. But apparently something must be done without any further delay to keep the doors of Palestine open. since the arbitrary policy of Great Britain has already cost millions of human lives.