Speech #890145518

I wish to pay him a tribute for the taste and fine leadership he displayed in the conference. There are two matters upon which I wish to comment. The first is the question of the ceiling on Western Hemisphere immigration to the United States. I do not favor such a ceiling. I was strongly opposed to it in the subcommittee. in the full committee. and on the Senate floor. We all understand that the bill is a package deal and includes a Select Commission on Western Hemisphere Immigration to consider whether the imposition of a ceiling. after an exhaustive study of the situation in the future. is the right policy. Without such a package. we would not have had a bill in the Senate. The House Conferees. recognizing this situation. nonetheless went along with this proposition. I am convinced. and I think those who feel strongly against the imposition of the ceiling on Western Hemisphere immigration should also feel convinced. that this important legislation would not be here. and the Senator from Massachusetts would have been unable to be in this posture of final action on a bill. were not the whole package accepted. It is fair to say. and I believe it is most important to say. that a determined effort was made by some in conference to strike out the Commission. It required much effort and persuasion on the part of the Senate conferees. together with a conviction on the part of a number of House conferees. to cause the acceptance of the Commission. That was critically important. because it is really the only ameliorating factor and. based upon the factual advice the Commission may give us. a better policy may be provided to substitute for the ceiling which we placed on Western Hemisphere immigration. It should be made absolutely clear that none of us who feel as I do have altered our views upon that subject. Our Latin American friends should understand that. otherwise we would have had no bill at all. also that the ceiling maintains approximately the present rate of immigration. in addition that the Commission is under a duty to submit a preliminary report on or before July 1. 1967. which is before the ceiling on Latin American immigration will take effect on July 1. 1968. This will give Congress an opportunity. in the light of an authoritative set of findings. to reconsider the policy if it wishes to do so. In the same connection.