Evening star., 1940-12-10

quote ALLEN registration, which
good many people thought was
going to be a moody sort of business,
has turned out to have a rather
compelling carnival charm. The
average alien, in the minds Of the
post office people, who are in charge
of this work, is a person OF spirit
and rare charm"
The manner in which the regis
tration has been conducted has led
many non-citizens to report, not
alone to us but to friends, employers
and others, along these lines: I
quote: The whole atmosphere IN
the registration Office does certainly
not let one feel as a suspected fifth
columnist,' but as a future citizen
of whom the Government is anxious
to take the best care possible
Had registration been oppressive.
had it been "a moody sort Of busi-
ness" 1t is not likely that so many
letters. of which the following is but
typical, would have been written:
Honorable Sirs: Thank you for
Receipt Card No. l., and may
God bless" you always"
Of course, we were not able to
accede to all requests. Many ar
rived at post Offices early on August
27 hoping to become No. l of Amer
ica's registered aliens. 1t was really
too bad we couldn't comply with the
request of one woman that she be
permitted to use her own color of
finegrprinting ink! Or meet the
wishes of those who wanted dupli-
cate sets of their fingerprints to
frame and hang in the family
parlor!
But it has been real JOY to us in
the Alien Registration Division to
feel that we have met some new
friends-even though by correspond
ence only. I have real affection
and a new feeling of respect for
the kind of American resident who
would write to ask my official ad-
vice" on a personal matter which
was troubling him. Before leaving
his native land 49 years ago and
at the age of 81. he had, in that
country, committed minor of1ense.
He wrote as follows: Being sensl-
tive of his indiscretion and anxious
to fill out properly my alien regis
tration, do / have to record this
happening, or does the fact OF its
being only minor offense Of so long
ago not warrant it? I shall" he
concluded, "be governed by your
answer" One must respect such
scrupulous compliance with a law.
More Than 100000 So Far.
So much for what has happened.
As of this morning more than 3,70O,-
600 registrations has been received
in the alien registration division
here in Washington. Included IN
this number are undoubtedly some
who upon further investigation Will
be found to possess United States
citizenship We have encouraged
those who have any doubt as to thelr
citizenship status = and there are
many such-to register for their own
protection.
AS many of you know. it was esti-
mated at the outset of the registra-
ton period that there were 3.6oO,Oo0
aliens in continental United Staes-
the lowest number in great many
wears and the smallest percentage OF
aliens in our population in the his
tory of the country. The figure OF
3.6O0.0O was arrived at by taking
the 1880 census figures and making
appropriate subtractions and addl-
tions arising from immigration, nat
uralizations, deaths and emigration.
We knew at all times that 1t was
only an estimate, minimum num-
ber, for planning purposes. We are
not at all surprised that 3,700000
have already registered; we know
there are many thousands still to be
registered.
At the close of registration on
December 26. am confident that
well over 100000 will have regis
tered as non-citizens. They will
have spread upon the Governments
records their sworn statements with
respect to themselves - when and
how they came here. how long they
expect to stay, their occupations,
their relatives living in the United
States, their encounters with the
criminal law of this country and
others, their military service in the
United States and abroad, their
activities and the organizations to
which they belong. particularly any
which have connection with the
political activities, public relations
or public policies of foregn gov
ernment.
No Coercion Used.
say we will have their state
ments" because that is what we have
sought in this registration. Appre-
ciative of the fact that most of them
are loyal and law-abiding, we have
endeavored to enlist the co-opera-
ton of non-citizens; we have not
coerced, we have not cross-examined.
In a well-known book, "The Rea-
son for Living" the author refers
to this law of nature: "Only good
will creates good will 1t does not
always seem to work. The excep-
ton often deceives us and inclines
us to forget the law. Sunshine and
rain may not always produce a crop,
but without light and water crops
are not created. Nothing but good
will ever has-nor ever can-create
good will
My main concern tonight is with
respect to those who have not yet
registered. The law gives non-citi-
zens until December 26 to register.
Since that is so, no inferences OF
any kind can or will be drawn from
last-minute registrations, but those
who do not attend to it this week
will add to their own inconvenience
you know what the Christmas
mail is like in post ofices-and the
mail must be delivered to citizens
and non-citizens alike.
| tall Af