Evening star., 1940-12-10

complying with the present law? 1t
is my own feeling that the United
States, both in its legislative and
executive branches, will wish to
demonstrate, in this alien registra-
ton program and its aftermath,
that 1t is better to comply with our
laws, even If that involves throwing
ones self upon the sense Of fairness
and mercy of the Government, than
1t is to flaunt our laws.
Advisable to Understand.
To the extent that loyal and law
abiding non-citizens-even those
whose present stay here is not in
conformity with the law-do not
regist n for our records. we Of the
Alien Registration Division will have
failed in our undertaking; but more
important than that by far Is the
indisputable fact that such nom
citizens will have seriously preju-
diced their chances Of remaining
here. That should be clearly under
stood by abby the non-citizen
concerned, and by those who advise
him.
My warning is this: None should
be misled by the friendly manner in
which the registration itself has
been conducted. 1t does not follow
that violators of the registration
statute, be they otherwise law-abid-
ing or not, will receive similar con-
sideration.
To those whose present status may
present some difficulty under our
immigration laws, to those who act
as advisers and friends, say with
all the sincerity at my command
let no non-citizen fail to register
before December rs. Do not COM
plicate your situation further by
being unable to present evidence of
that registration. I am not un-
mindful of the many letters,
anonymous and otherwise, written
to us concerning the fears of those
who want so much to stay here but
admit that their method Of getting
here would not stand the laws
scrutiny; many are frank in won-
| dering whether it Is wiser to run
the risk of detection and punish
ment than to record their presence.
To all of the writer's of those letters,
say and mean it: Register. True.
registration will not remove the
cause for worry but you won't have
added to it. You should know that
steps will be taken to detect those
who do not register.
am concerned about one more
group-those ready and expecting to
take the last step In their naturali-
ations. In many cases there have
been long delays due to congestion
in Naturalization Offlces and Court
calendars. ANY who became citi-
zens by taking the oath of allegiance
before Federal or other naturali-
zation court before December rs,
1910, need not register, but until
and unless that final step is taken.
the obligation to register confines;
the time Is short; advise no further
DELAY. Expectation to be called to
take the oath of citizenship will not
serve as an excuse for failure to
register before the end of the reg
istration period
Must Tell of Address Change.
To all non-citizens who have not
registered-to all parents and
guardians of non-citizen children
under IA years of age: this is the
last call. Get a preliminary regis
! tration blank-the green form
from any post Office or perhaps a
neighborhood social welfare agency,
fill it out with such help as you
may need, for which you should
not pay anything to anybody. and
present yourself for registration
this week or. in any event, before
the end of December 26. Get 1t
d. over with and enjoy the holiday
1 season all, ,the more.
| And to all of those who have
registered. and who will register
during the remaining days, let me
specifically call your attention to
the requirements of the law with
respect to notifying us of changes
in address or making quarterly ad-
dress reports. These obligations
exist from the moment you register.
even before you receive from Wash
ington the receipt card which is
your evidence of registration. Ap-