Speech #820200456

H. R. 5678. which we are considering today represents nearly 4 years of intensive study and consideration. I am in sympathy with its laudable purpose of redefining and codifying our immigration and naturalization procedures into a consistent whole. No one is more aware than I am of the long hours and patient study which have gone into this bill. But most of all I am concerned today with the basic principles which are incorporated into this measure. However. at this time in the history of our country. and in the history of the world. I cannot justifiably support a bill which. by its restrictive features. makes it even more difficult for immigrants to enter this countryand to remain herethan it has even been before. To such restrictive measures I am opposed. I want to go on record in support of a more equitable principle of immigration. In my opinion. it is better to adhere to the principle of equity for which this country stands. and demonstrate to the world that we continue to believe in our timehonored tradition of asylum. Without changing the fundamental basis of the tluota system. and without increasing the legally established number of admissions each year. we can adopt modifications which will liberalize the quota system and make it conform with world conditions. Thoughtful persons are becoming increasingly aware of the direct and important relationship between the immigration policy of the United States and our policy of joining with the other nations of the world in defense of out way of life. However the restrictive features of this bill will work the greatest hardship against those countries on the continent of Europe which are joined with us in the North Atlantic Pact. An even more important reason why I am opposed to further restrictions arises from my conviction that our history and our development as a nation have demonstrated that immigrationadjusted to our absorptive capacityis good for the country. In H. R. 5678 this Congress Is being asked to reendorse a principle of qflota distributions which is. to my mind. thoroughly contrary to the American idea. I refer. of course. to the quotas set under the "national origins" principle in the 1924 act. I think it is time to call the principle for what it isan attempt to set out a theory of racial superiority. Our immigrationtotal quotas permitted to be distributed for a year number 153.929. Of this group the northern and western European countries12 of themare allotted 125.855. The southern and eastern European countriesabout 18 nationsare allotted 24.648.