Speech #820214042

I realize that in this period of high emotional tensions in our Nation. a spirit of blind. biased. nationalism seems to be overcoming millions of our fellow citizens. We see such blind nationalism manifest itself in connection with a great many issues. and most prominently in connection with issues affecting foreign policy. Of course. questions of immigration are directly connected with the entire foreign policy attitude of the American people. I wish to say that if we are going to think in terms of the century aheadwhich happens to be the obligation of statesmanship on the the part of Members of Congress at this sessionthen we had better recognize that we should not try to live unto ourselves alone in connection with immigration problems for. if we do. we shall walk out on the principles and policies of our forefathers which have made the United States the great Nation it is today. and we shall antagonize millions of persons the world around. whose support. cooperation. and alliance we shall sorely need in the century ahead. as we go forward in that troubled period. in the contest between the free way of life and the enslaved way of life. the latter being represented by Russian communism. In my judgment if we follow such a restricted. nationalistic attitude in regard to immigration. we shall not strengthen the bonds of the freedom way of life around the world. but in my opinion we shall play into the hands of the propaganda of Russian communism. Mr. President. to take a stand such as I take has already started criticisms coming from various reactionary forces and isolationist forces. These days I am receiving mail and telegrams severely criticizing me because I will not accept a narrow conception for the immigration policies of our Nation. Not long ago I received such a bitter letter from a critic. I replied to that letter as follows: I have your letter of February 6. in which you urge that the immigration laws be tightened. You say that It "would be tantamount to treason for any Senator or Representative to vote to liberalize the immigration laws at this time." Of course. Mr. President. the type of namecalling tactic that this person used In her letter to me is typical of the emotions of the time. She would make me out a traitor to my country if I insisted on keeping faith with what I believe has been one of the great strengths of my country. namely. the recognition of humanitarian values in connection with its immigration program. So. Mr.