Speech #830107459

I went to conference in the same spirit. and in the same spirit worked to preserve what had been done in the Senate. By the time the bill got to conference. it had become obvious that a bill would be passed. The only question remaining was whether that bill would protect the security of the United States so far as possible. and whether it would protect and preserve the provisions of the existing Immigration and Nationality Act. Mr. President. I signed this conference report because there is not a line in the bill which. either directly or by implication. amends or weakens the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. and the conference report itself emphatically so states. All of the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act are declared to be applicable under this bill. and the statement of managers on the part of the House declares: The conferees wish to state at this point that the new law does not constitute an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act. I signed this conference report because there is nothing in the bill which commits this Nation to a program of trying to solve the population problems of Europe through migration to the United States. and because this bill does not even set a precedent in that regard. and because the conference report itself specifically says so. The statement of the managers on the part of the House declares that the bill: Is not intended to represent any precedent or commitment on the part of the Congress or the Government of the United States to participate as an immigrant receiving country in any international endeavors aimed at a permanent solution of the problem of surplus populations as it now apparently exists in certain parts of Europe and Asia. I signed this conference report because every provision that would have permitted the admission of a foreign national as such has been eliminated from the bill. and the bill now authorizes the issuance of visas only to bona fide refugees and persons who are entitled to preference under the existing Immigration and Nationality Act. Let me make that perfectly clear: No person will get a visa under this bill unless he is a real refugee. who complies with the Senate definition of refugee. or unless he is a person who is entitled to preference under the existing Immigration and Nationality Act. I signed this conference report. Mr. President. because it has been made perfectly clear in the Senate. and is reiterated in this conference report. that the numbers fixed in this bill are not quotas. but are only maximums. that there is to be no striving to bring in the full numbers authorized by this bill. and that if the full numbers of visas authorized are not issued by the end of 1956. the program is to terminate anyhow. The statement of the managers on the part of the House declares: The conferees desire further to stress that this legislation constitutes in no way a mandate to issue. within the prescribed period of time. the full number of visas allocated under this legislation. These are. In each case. maximum limitations. not quotas to be filled. It is to be clearly understood that this bill offers opportunities to enter the United States to a certain number of eligible aliens but that no special effort should be made to evade any of the provisions of this act or of the Immigration and Nationality Act in order to bring in such number or any number. Similarly. it is the unanimous consensus of the conferees that no efforts should be made to induce aliens to seek entry to the United States under this bill. I signed this conference report because it has been made perfectly clear that this is an emergency measure and not the start of a program which is to be continued or renewed through the years. I may say in that regard. Mr. President. that I have had assurance from the very highest source that this is the last of the socalled emergency immigration acts which will be submitted to Congress by the Executive. There is another reason. Mr.