Speech #780206830

We merely supply the shelf. that is the warehouse. that is the free port. Such a free port Is an international convenience which costs us nothing. Why not establish free ports for refugees? They would remain interned and segregated in such areas. in such temporary havensI repeat. temporary havens. They would never mix with our citizens. Only those would ever be permitted the freedom of the country and the acquisition of citizenship as would have gained those privileges while they were in Europe and subject to our regular consular procedure. All others would be deported to the regions of their origin or to those countries who invited themjust as soon as we bring peace and order to Europe. Remember. that these human beings would simply be in transitprecisely like some merchandise kept in customs bond in the freeport area of Staten Island in New York Harbor. As one early advocate of this proposal of free ports for refugees puts it: Can we really argue with shabby earnestness that the innocent victims of these Nazis are not entitled to equal rights with their deadly and malicious enemies? If we cannot give our friends at least the same rights we give olur enemies. then a host of questions is raised. including whither are we drifting and what is wrong with our heads. �he refugees could be visited by consular and other officials of their own nations In these free ports. They could be investigated. picked over. and. perhaps. in time outfitted with papers. and thus gradually raised to the lofty level of legal existence. as distinguished from the Inconsequential level of mere physical existence. Meanwhile. those Americans who do not want refugees here could have the assurance that they are not legally here at all. while Americans of a more humanitarian turn of mind and heart could have the assurance that the refugees were being cared for. and this Is. therefore a democratic solution. In har. mony with the traditional ingenuity and resourcefulness of AngloSaxon lawmaking. As one looks It over it seems. also. to be a fairly repulsive solution. But that is all the refugees ask for. a repulsive solution. Can we give them less? The response to this proposal for temporary shelter was qilick and widespread.