Evening star., 1940-12-10
Warns Hesitant Aliens
To Register On or
Before Dec. 26
Earl 6. Harrison, Chief
Of Registration, Tells Of
Act in Forum Speech

Earl G.. Harrison, director of alien
registration, discussed the purpose
of the Alien Registration Act and
the necessity for all non-citizens to
comply with it by registering
through their local post offices
before December 26 in an address in
the National Radio Forum last
night. The speech sponsored by The
Star and the National Broadcasting
Co, was broadcast over a Nation
wide N. B C. network and was heard
locally over Station WMAL.
The text of the address follows:
NY talk tonight concerning alien
registration is the last word l shall
have with you on the subject before
the end of the registration period
Just II days off. A brief resume
of the program up to date is, there
fore, in order, as we'll as short
statement of the present situation;
finally, I feel keenly the obliga-
ton and necessity of giving word
of friendly but none the less
straightforward warning.
News of the passage of the Alien
Registration Act of 1910 was re-
ceived with mingled and varied feel
ings. On the one hand. there were
those who recognized in it an under
standable and justifiable differentia-
tion between citizenship and nom
citizenship common in all countries
of the world, neutrality-suspicious.
too long delayed-step toward learn
ing more of the real facts about our
non-citizen population; all this
toward the end that we might have
greater national safety and unity
within. On the other hand, there
were many who had opposed the
registration of aliens on the ground
that 1t might drive wedge between
citizens and friendly non-citizens,
open the way to persecution of nom
citizens. and facilitate discrimina-
ton against them-in short. sub
tract from American liberty.
Aliens Are Reassured.
President Roosevelt gave friendly
reassurances when he signed the
registration measure; the Attorney
General of the United States. as
head of the Department of Justice
to which was assigned the RESPONSE
bility for the undertaking, gave spe-
cifc form to the assurances when
he stated resolutely that the regis
tration would be carried out with
due regard for the feelings and
rights of those required to comply.
Solicitor General Biddle. entrusted
with direct supervision of the pro-
gram with the assistance OF Maj.
Lemuel B. Schofield, special assist
ant for the immigration and Nat
uraliZation Service, made publicly
clear their determination that reg
istration should be as little burden
some as possible for loyal and law
abiding aliens. All of these high
officials saw in the measure a means
of protection to desirable guests, as
we'll as to the Nation, their host.
With the way thus plainly charted,
with the pattern clearly outlined,
there remained only for the Alien
Registration Division. with the help
and cooperation of that truly great
branch of the Government service,
the Post Office Department, to NIL IN
the details. In deciding each OF the
many questions of policy and pro-
cedure. the representatives OF the
Department of Justice and OF the
Post Office Department sought to
reach that solution which would at
the same time achieve the full IN
tention of the enacting Congress and
make the registration truly Amer
lean program of collecting vital sta
tistics and information. Our plans
we're formulated around the PROPOSE
ton that the registration would be
accomplished without oftense or op-
preston and with proper considera-
tion for the feelings and rights OF
those subject to the laws mandate,
not in any sentimental sense, but IN
accordance with American tradltlon.
Responding to the spirit OF the
nlan with the genuine enthusiasm
found only in a democracy Whlch
welcomes the aid of all, communl-
ties the Nation over, through their
organizations, their institutions and
individual leaders, joined forces 10
accomplish the affirmative, the con-
structive possibilities of the law, and
to guard against unworthy consequ-
ences The result has been an
almost unique cooperative EFFORT
at good will and friendliness as
related to law enforcement.
Aided by Press and Radio.
It is particularly appropriate that
tonight-on the National Raolo
Forum, sponsored by The Star one
of the great papers of the Nation S
capital- tribute should be so rightly
paid to the yeomen service rendered
bv the press and radio, through
which. In so many different langu-
age, information concerning non
citizen registration. its why, when,
where, who and how. have been
carried into almost every nome
and, incidentally. at next to no ex-
pense to the Government.
Agencies of Government-Federal,
State and local-have co-operated.
Governors and mayors throughout
the country have issued appropriate
proclamations. Thousands OF pa
triotic citizens of all nationalitles
have sat down with non-citizens IN
neighborly fashion and prepared
them for registration by helping
All out the preliminary forms,
acting as interpreters, suggesting
old records to be consulted to find
needed information regarding c2tes
of arrivals, and so on. This was
truly a fine demonstration of ma
tional friendship, unhampered by
citizenship lines.
Specific mention. too, should be
made of the quiet, personal work
performed by the social welfare
agencies. Because of their years OF
neighborly service for and with the
foreign-born, their acceptance OF
the registration program, and their
active participation in it constituted
q tremendously important factor IN
alleviating fear and instilling fuller
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