Speech #870197386

Mr. President. these communications and editorial comments are only a small sample of the material which has been sent to me. From the hundreds of letters I have received. the most noteworthy fact to emerge is that many Americans are not in sympathy with our present discriminatory national origins quota system. Even those who wrote me in opposition to S. 3043 generally were not in sympathy with our present discriminatory national origins quota system. Even those who wrote me in opposition to S. 3043 generally were not concerned with the nationality or race of those who wish to immigrate to America. The objections were based principally on the mistaken fear that we proposed to open the flood gates of immigration or that immigration aggravates our unemployment problems. Still others were concerned about whether the bill proposes to relax the individual qualifications of immigrants on such matters as their adherence to democratic government. their character or their ability to support themselves. S. 3043. of course. would maintain th. same stringent individual qualifications of the present law. Again. the introduction of S. 3043 has provided a focal point for discussion of our immigration policies. This discussion already has resulted in several endorsements of the bill. In the near future many other organizations and leading citizens will take a position on this bill.