Speech #820214974

S. 2567. to provide for the establishment of an agency of this Government to assist in the migration of surplus population of overpopulated countries to various areas of the world considered as underpopulated areas. The approval of these two measures would constitute a step in the right direction toward alleviation of the surplus population problems of Western Europe. Even the President. in his message to the Congress with reference to the admission of displaced refugees. did not recommend that any attempt be made to incorporate such provisions in our permanent immigration laws. Members of the Senate must also bear In mind that besides the countries of Western Europe. there are many overpopulated countries. such as China. India. and other oriental countries. The national origins quota system has now been in effect for about a quarter of a century and there has been comparatively little difficulty in its operation as compared to the sad experience under our immigration laws prior to the adoption of a national origins formula in 1924. I would be the last one. Mr. President. to deny that the immigrants who have come to this country have made a great contribution to our Nation. but I am firmly convinced that the flow of immigrants must be strictly controlled so that we will not receive more aliens than we can assimilate. I believe it is highly desirable that we continue a policy of admitting annually a reasonable number of immigrants whom we are capable of digesting into our body of citizenry. but I also believe that it would be a great tragedy if we should cast aside the national origins quota system and permit an influx of immigrants in numbers greater than our capacity to digest them. It is most important that when we admit aliens into this country as immigrants that they ultimately become citizens and accept our way of life and join us in preserving the fundamental institutions of this country. but if we admit the aliens In excessive numbers. then our ability to absorb them becomes more difficult with the result that we have alien segments in our population which never become completely adapted to our form of government. For these reasons. Mr. President. I strongly object to the proposed amendment and most earnestly ask the Members of the Senate to reject the amendment and preserve a sound immigration system for this country. Mr. President.