Speech #820211841

Mr. President. I think that is about all I wanted to say with regard to the total numbers of Immigrants. except again to stress the fact that I do not believe the country will be strained if it is asked to admit immigrants to the extent of onesixth of 1 percent of the population each year. It Is always true that If a depression were to occur. then by administrative rulings. as was done during the last depression. the consular officials abroad could refuse visas to those who. in their Judgment. were likely to become public charges. The test will be objective. based upon economic conditions in the United States as well as subjective. based upon the qualities of the person who seeks admittance to the United States. Immigration into the United States was virtually shut off during the early 1930s by an administrative ruling. and if We were to have a depression in the futureGod forbid that we shallthere could be a similar adjustment of flow to meet economic conditions here.