Speech #890120660

Finally. it is significant that at a time when immigration from the Western Hemisphere totaled 190.000. way back in 1923. when our population was less than 100 million and the gross national product approximated $85.9 billion. the Congress was not disposed to set a numerical limitation on immigration from the Western Hemisphere. As contrasted with 1924. nonquota immigration from the Western Hemisphere has averaged 125.000 over the past 5 years and 110.000 over the past 10 years. If the earlier larger volume of nonquota immigration from the Western Hemisphere did not cause the Congress to take countermeasures way back in 1924. there would seem to be less reason for doing so today. particularly when we view the situation in the context of our population of 190 million and a gross national product of $670 billion. which soon will reach $700 billion. For those reasons I do hope that when the time comes we will decisively vote down the MacGregor amendment.