Speech #800023709

But too often in preparing to perform a good work. when agreements are drafted containing the language which will constitute the guide for action. words are used that have no bearing and should have no part in the obligation which is being undertaken. The amendment which has been offered to the resolution on behalf of myself and the able Senator from Nevada [Mr. McCARRAN I Is solely for the purpose of removing any question of doubt whatever that under the guise of authority of this resolution persons may be brought into this country without the consent of Congress which. from the beginning of our Nation. has had control of the entry of immigrants to America. I am delighted that the Senator from Michigan joins me in that. He has. however. taken a view in which I do not join. and that is that there is nothing to be found in the constitution of the International Refugee Organization which endangers or bears upon the entry of people into this country. I believe the able Senator talked about having lawyer trouble. I say to him with all kindness and friendship that he would have had no lawyer trouble whatsoever if he had listened and followed. and if his committee had gone along with. the Judiciary Committee. which became very much concerned with this problemparticularly so because it deals with the subject of immigration into our country.. I do not wish to give the Senator any more lawyer trouble. but I am compelled to disagree with the view he takes. namely. that there is nothing in the agreement or constitution bearing upon the immigration question. I desire to point out now. first of all. that there was no doubt in the minds of the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that this subject involved and touched very closely upon the general subject of immigration and our established immigration laws. so much so that every member of the Judiciary Committee signed a letter to its chairman. the able Senator from Wisconsin . asking him to take up this subject and see to it that the immigration laws of the United States were not transgressed by any action taken upon this joint resolution. As a result of that action. a proposed amendment. generally like the amendment now before the Senate. was submitted. That was not drawn entirely by those who have offered it. that amendment. Mr. President. is the work of counsel of the Judiciary Committee. the legislative counsel of the Senate. and counsel in the Library of Congress. I wish to point out noW. if I may. the places in the constitution of the International Refugee Organization where definite reference is made to subjects involving immigration or the entry of people into the United States. whether they be called refugees or immigrants. I read from page 2 of the International Refugee Organization resolution of the General Assembly. dated December 27. 1946. and coming from the Department of State: Having considered the constitution of the International Refugee Organization and the arrrangement for a preparatory commission as approved by the Economic and Social Council. Considering that every effort should be made to provide for the early establishment of the International Refugee Organization and the provision of measures during the interim period designed to facilitate such establishment. ThereforeNow I pass over (a). (b). (c). and (d). and come to paragraph (e). It "urges members of the United Nations to give the most favorable consideration to receiving each into its territory at the earliest possible time. so far as may be practicable for permanent resettlement. its fair share of the nonrepatriable persons who are the concern of the International Refugee Organization and this in conformity with the principles of the Organization." Mr. President. that is an appeal to all members of the United Nationsand we are one of themto take as many refugees as they can. as soon as they can. into their borders. and the conclusion is inescapable that the refugee problem is tied in to the immigration question and our immigration laws. So. from the standpoint of some of us. it became very important to see to it that the laws of the Congress which control immigration shall be maintained inviolate. and that we shall not. by signing this agreement and passing this joint resolution. thereby becoming a member of the Organization. surrender the power of Congress over the subject of the entry of persons into the United States. That was the question. Let us go further Into the question whether there is any link between the subject of immigration and the pending joint resolution. Under articleII of the socalled proposed constitution of the International Refugee Organization. we find what its purposes are generally intended to be. I read now from paragraph (b) : .With respect to persons for whom repatriation does not take place under paragraph 1 (a) of this article to facilitatingParagraph 1 (a) deals with repatriation. sending the people back to their homeland. when that can be done with safety to them. It is one of the powers and purposes-