The only one of our proposed amendments which does not have the backing of the interested Government departments is the amendment to permit all Americans on the date of enactment of a war claims program to participate in its benefits. The arguments against this proposal are grounded on considerations of international law. These considerations. in my opinion. are of dubious validity. But apart from that. this is not a matter which should be decided on the basis of international law but rather on the basis of our own laws and policies. Our laws have never sanctioned a distinction between Americans based on the date of their naturalization. As Americans. we instinctively reject any such division of our fellow citizens as discriminatory and indefensible. There may be first- and secondgeneration Americans. but there are no first- and secondclass Americans.
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naturalization