Speech #790035176

I recognize that I have a task to perform. particularly since this resolution has been so misrepresented by the gentlemen from Georgia. the member of the Committee on Rules who brought it in. I want to place the discussion andthe argument on the adoption of this resolution on a serious. high plane. where it belongs. After the last war this country faced one of the most serious problems it ever faced. and that was the immigration problem. As a result of that. as a result of study. and as a result of legislation. our quota laws were adopted. They certainly have been of wonderful benefit to this country. in that they provide for selection of our immigrants. in that they provide certain restrictions upon certain groups. and in that they provide different quotas for different nations. I do not think there is anyone in this Congress who will question the fact that these quota laws have been very beneficial. That was 25 years ago. It was a long time ago. There has n6t been any study of the immigation problem since that time. We are going to face a serious immigration problem after this war is over. As the chairman of our committee has told you. we have various kinds of bills affecting immigration before our committee today. For instance. one of them provides for doing away with all quotas for 10 years. Another one provides for reducing all quotas by 50 percent for 10 years. Other bills are inclined to liberalize the quota law. The question. of course. is what is best for us to do in that postwar period. We certainly ought to be willing to tackle the problem now so that some serious study can be made upon which to base action by this Congress in the postwar period. I. want to ask some questions now. whether you are ready to answer them or not. What are we to do about all of these refugees whom we have in the country today who have been permitted. to come in under Executive order? Are they to stay here? Are they to be sent back home 6 months after the war?