Evening star., 1939-07-07
Danger Foreseen in
Refugee Proposals
Says Newcomers Would Add
To Our Own Problems of
Unemployment
To the Editor OF The Star.

Unemployment
To the Editor Of The Star:
Americans of every faith express q
determined antipathy for political and
social movements which seek to de-
stroy the fundamental liberties of any
people. In this respect, the persecution
of peoples in Europe has given rise
in this country to tremendous spark
of sympathy for the afflicted groups
abroad. This sympathy and a desire
to alleviate the frightful conditions
abroad has consequently created various
forms of pressure here; especially pre-
dominant, however, is the affirmation IN
the policy Of mass transference of these
prosecuted peoples to American shores
The problem confronting the Nation,
therefore, must be viewed from the OBJ
jective rather than the emotional point
OF view. 1t is not a consideration to
be solved by resort to transcending ar
guments All Americans, irrespective of
religious or racial 'antecedents, suppos-
edly adhere to genuine belief in the
American form of government that be-
lief must of necessity preclude at times.
viewing problems of a national scope
from racial or religious perspective.
A serious Interrogation must be posed
by citizens conscious Of the grave reali-
ties of the day. This query should be
phrased in the following manner: Is
there room for legitimate objection In
40 of ott;
present ever-increasing infiltration of
political refugees into the United States?
The facts to be submitted in valida-
ton of this brief are hard and fast
realities too well known by Americans.
Our domestic economy, weighted down
and in the morass of uncertainty, can
not be expected to benehcially assimi-
late newly arrived immigrants if, up
to now, countless myriads of native citi-
zens are suffering impoverishment of
social and economic character What
justification is to be offered not only
by individual citizens, but by the Gov
ernment as well, in regard to so-called
guarantees" for these refugees in the
sense of presupposing that they will not
prove burdens to the State or the COM
munlty? Refugees, unless misinterpre-
tations have been set upon their plight,
depend upon the paternalism of rela-
tlVes and sympathetic groups here be-
fore they procure right of entry to this
country. Furthermore. upon taking up
their existence here, they too must bear
the brunt of our 10-year disaster and
commence the Herculean task of find
ing employment Of a sustaining charac-
ter. OmlnouS are the reports of alleged
employment OF refugees over native cit!-
zens long in the throes of economic de-
spair. Those responsible must compre-
hend the gravity of their deeds. Unless
they wish to produce situations con-
duclye to serious social unrest let them
be cognizant of their prime obligations
as real Americans assist in every prac-
tlcable manner the plight of the retu-
gee; but do not do so at the expense
OF native citizens who cry out for the
legitimate right to livelihood, no mat
Ter now meager that livelihood may be
Ihls country has been and still is IN
the grip Of economic maladjustment, Out
OF this maladjustment, the roots of
greater more insidious evil becomes
more apparent every day; the portent of
totalitarianism! The profit system. taxed
and exploited to the point of excess,
turns to the demagogue offering nebu-
lous panacea to all national ills. The
malcontents, their misery exploited. then
become the spearhead for a combined
assault upon the existing social system.
And, inevitably, parallel application of
authoritarian philosophy works its deadly
haVoc; scapegoats are found and merci-
lessly prosecuted. Hypothetical yes!
But let no one doubt the plausibilitv of
such a dire happening If conditions in
this country gravitate toward the dark.
rather than the light, side in the next
few years.
One might question the pertinency of
the above in relation to the subject at
hand. 1t should be realized, in that con-
nection. that for every refugee entering
this country at the present time, and for
every refugee being given the right to
livelihood over an American citizen. one
potential malcontent is bred. The time
may come when a dangerous situation
will have been created by those very per-
sons who view with CONSERVATION the
possibility of grave unrest here; these
same people, however, refrain from OBJ
Jective analysis and mutter the credo of
1T can't happen here!'
The domestic scene shows no signs of
sudden amelioration. The staggering cost
OF Government, the madcap spending
OF the New Deal, the narrowing reality
OF millions of unemployed all these
facts force one to an irrevocable conclu-
sion; no augury of prosperity can be
forecast on the basis of present national
tendencies. Those who espouse the cause
OF unrestricted lifting of the immigration
quotas from specific countries, in the
light of domestic conditions, must UNDER
stand the potential consequences of such
an eventuality, continued refugee in
filtration, and, finally, further economic
disbalance with the possibility of
boomerang affecting the very destiny
of the Nation.
No decent thinking person refuses to
view with impassioned horror the con-
sequences of persecution of peoples. How
ever, the true American must also hone
and work toward alleviating sore spots