Evening star., 1942-01-15

Curran Makes Plea {.
For Fair Play for
Aliens in j. ).
United Stotes Attorney
Hits Tendency to Bor
Them From Jobs
Less than one-half of l per cent
Of all the so-called alien enemies in
this country have been considered
as possibly dangerous to the ma
tional security, United States At
torney Edward M. Curran declared
last night in . radio address over
Station WMAL.
The prosecutor. who spoke at the
instance of Attorney General
Francis Biddle, enjoined his hearers
TO adopt q sensible attitude toward
aliens in general and to give them
employment.
Pointing out that only 81 per
cent Of the Nations 100 900 900 popu-
lation are aliens-"the lowest per-
centage of aliens we have ever had
IN this country'-Mr. Curran as
serted that the total number OF Ger
man. Italian and Japanese nationals
In the United States Is about 1,100,-
900.
Under 5000 Apprehended.
"Of this number the Department
Of Justice. under authority OF presl-
Dental proclamations, has found 1t
necessary to apprehend fewer than
5000: In other words, less than one
half of ! per cent of all the So
called alien enemies In this country
have been considered as possibly
dangerous to our national security"
Mr.. Curran said.
Regardless of what disposition is
made of an alien enemy. the De-
partment of Justice expects citizens
to take no action, direct or indirect,
against the children, families or
relatives of the alien enemies con-
cerned or against the alien enemies
themselves" declared the prose-
cutor.
Let us not subject them to the
fears that people living In Axis
countries have, for those are the
fears we are fighting against. In
fighting for the preservation Of our
democracy. let us set good example
Of what we mean by the American
way in our own neighborhoods."
Many Prove Devotion.
The United States attorney said
that "the majority of our aliens
have already proved their devotion
10 American institutions and to
democratic principles" adding that
20 per cent of them have already
taken steps to become American
citizens. Many others would be-
come citizens If they were not barred
for illiteracy or because they are
members of the Japanese race, he
asserted.
-Four out Of five OF them have
close family ties herein most cases
American-born children" Mr.. Cur
ran declared. "A large number Of
these children are now serving in our
armed forces.
IT make these points to emphasize
the fact that mere alienage alone
does not mean disloyalty to America.
ANY such connotation is unjust and
unfair and in direct opposition to
the principles Of justice and de-
cency for which the United States Is
fighting today"
M. Curran referred to the Alien
Enemy Hearing Board that is now
functioning for the District and
said: Every alien enemy concerned
will have an opportunity to appear
before the board and state the facts
Of his case" .
May Take Citizenship Steps.
1T has been brought to the atten-
ton Of the Department Of Justice
that certain employers are discharg-
tnR German and Italian aliens on
the grounds that they cannot be-
come citizens during the war and are
therefore no longer wanted in their
factories" continued the prosecutor.
"This policy is based on misunder-
standing of the facts and should be
remedied as quickly as possible"
Mr.. Curran said it is misconcep-
tion that a German or Italian nom
citizen cannot become citizen for
the duration of the war, and cited
the fact that nothing prevents a
German or italian alien from filing
his first or second papers at any
time" and advised aliens concerned
to get in touch with the nearest Of
fce Of the immigration and Natural
11ation Service.
Let me take this opportunity to
emphasize that the laws OF the
United States contain no absolute
prohibition against the employment
OF aliens by private employers in ma
tional defense industries" said Mr..
Curran. 1T Is very important that
employers and the public generally
refrain from adopting any attitude
Or practice which would bar aliens
from employment or make 1t difdcult
for them to secure jobs"