Speech #860023460

The consulate in Iraq is now processing applications filed in 1946 and applications from Turkey are presently being processed which were first filed in 1945. It is estimated that there is a backlog of some 100.000 people who daily crowd the offices of our consulates abroad and unless this conversion is made from quota to nonquota. the number will grow and the pressure will increase. This backlog is due primarily to our national origin quota system which gives such pitifully small quotas to the countries of southern Europe and Asia and gives to Great Britain 65.360 of our total annual quota of 152.000. Yet Britain uses only 10 percent of this alloted quota and the rest is wasted. To rectify this inequity of opportunity. I therefore introduced a bill which. following the precedent established by the act of September 11. 1957._will provide for the conversion of the fourth preference category registered up to July 1. 1959 to nonquota immigrant status. It is my considered opinion that this is the just and humane thing to do in the interest of the United States. We Can Go Broke