The Washington times., 1922-12-16
CHORCHES URGE
REFUGEESbE
LET IN
Favor Change in Alien Laws
to Aid Christians From
Near East.

wear East.
Because OF the interest in Of.
fering a harbor of refuge for the
Armenian and Greek refugees Of
Asia Minor three bills have been
introduced In Congress. They are
designed to make some provision
for the entry into the United States
Of Christians seeking to escape the
Turks. The first two, one intro
duced by Senator Walsh Dem.) Of
Massachusetts,, the other by Con.
gressman F,airchild (Rep) of New
York, would relax the operation Of
the quota law to admit for Linn
tied time all refugees from the
Near East.
The third bill. which has con.
siderable support from religious
and social organizations. restricts
the entrance of refugees to those
who are blood-relatives Of Greeks
or Armenians now in this country
who have become American citizens
or who have declared their inten.
ton of becoming American citizens.
1t was introduced by Senator
keyes RepJ Of New Hampshire.
Il would allow to como into the
United States only the brothers,
sisters, fathers and mothers. aunts,
uncles, grandparents and grandchil-
dren. but not the cousins, Of
Armenians and Greeks now In this
country who can demonstrate their
ability to take care of them 30
that they will not become public
charges. Most Of the support Of
this bill is due to the belief Of
many Of its advocates that Il can
be eaaly passed.
Would Let Orphans In.
The suggestion has been made
to allow a number of orphans now
under the care Of American relief
organizations in the Near East to
enter the country under the care
Of these organizations. Hearings
on the various bills win be held
Shortly.
There Ia some opposition on the
part Of organized labor and advo-
Gates of a restrictive immigration
policy to- the bills which throw the
bars wide open, but labor leaders
have Expressed themselves as being
willing to admit the blood-relatives.
During the last few days there has
been increasing pressure from many
parts Of the country for the admis-
sion Of at least q limited number Of
refugees.
The Rev. c. T. Bridgeman, of the
department OF. immigration Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, who IL
working hard for the admission Of q
limited number Of refugees, said to-
day:
of course, the generous thing
would be to throw open our doors
to all the refugees. However, there
10 such strong feeling against allow
ing unrestricted immigration at this
time that there would probably be
strong opposition to q blanket per.
init for 100000 or more refugees to
pour into the United States.
May Reach 5e,Oo0.
"On the other hand, to refuse ad-
mission to the blood-relatives of
Greeks and Armenians who have
become naturalfzed or who have ap.
piled for naturalization In this coun.
try would be cruel and inhuman.
Many church groups are in favor OF
the Keyes bill, which will allow
these blood.relatives to enter, pro-
vided assurance Is given that they
will not become public charges.
Estimates made by persons in a
position to know as to the number
OF refugees who would be admitted
under this bill vary widely. One
authority Is as low as 5000 Der
sons, another as high as $4,000
persons.
''1f any of these people are to
lie admitted, legislation ia necessary.
Under the present immigration act
only certain number of persons
ID allowed each year from each
country. When these quotas are
filled no more may enter. The
various persons who are interested
in securing permission for these
refugees to enter America believe
that the admission Of blood -rela-
hves Is the least we can do.
This country has always been
q haven of refuge to the oppressed.
1t has been the asylum Of those
driven from their homes by re-.
ligfoua or political oppression. II
IL doubtful II ever before there has
been such persecution. We must let
these refugees. or at least our
share Of them. come in. They will
perish II we do not. The Keycs
bill safeguards the interests OF the
country. We are urging its passage.
Il ID the least America can do"
Mrs.. e. Terry Bremmer, chair.
man Near East emergency cotfi-
mittes; Aliss Mary Emerson Hurl-
burtt, OF tho =. w. G. A.: Mrs.
samuel MacC1intock. representing
several women's organizations, are
urR1ng the letting down Of the I'm
rnirfation bars SO that q limited
number Of refugees may enter.