Evening star., 1942-07-12
President Asks End
OF Discrimination in
Employing Aliens
Warns Against General
Condemnation Of Any
Group or Gloss
Bx GARRETT D. HORNER.


Mr.. Roosevelt pointed out that
there is no legal restriction on en-
ployment of aliens, except that
specific permission is required from
the War or Navy Department for
them to work in war industries on
Government contracts classified as
secret, confidential or restricted.
U. s. to Act Promptly
In these special cases, an alien
may make application on forms
furnished by the United States EN-
ployment Service for the required
permission. The department con-
cerned will "act promptly" on such
applications, usually within 48 hours,
the President said. He listed half
dozen categories of aliens whose
applications will receive special and
expedited consideration"
This system was worked out at
the request of Mr.. Roosevelt by At
torney General Biddle, Secretary of
War Stimson, Secretary of Navy
Knox and Malcolm MacLean, chair
man of the Committee on Fair EN-
ployment Practice.
Stephen T. Early, White House
secretary, said that Paul v. McNutt,
chairman of the War Manpower
Commission, will make certain now
that the agencies OF the Government
cooperating with the Commission
will put the plan into operation" :"
The four officials who developed
the plan reported to the President,
Mr.. Early said. that some discrimin-
alton exists in the employment Of
aliens now, largely because Of ma
tural psychology under war condi-
tions." but that the steps being
taken should laid in the elimination
Of such discrimination"
Reasonable Restrictions.
He emphasized that reasonable
restrictions would be maintained in
employment of aliens on jobs In
volving military secrecy, remarking
that II do not assume for moment
that the Government will let Ger
mans, Japanese or Rumenians work
on bombsight."
The objective, he said, is to classify
aliens, both friendly and enemy. with
a view to greater utilization Of their
services In our war production"
The next Of the Presidents state
ment, which the White House said
was issued 'in order to clarity the
policy Of the Government in re-
gard to the employment OF aliens
and other persons Of foreign birth.
follows:
81. Persons should not hereafter
be refused employment, or persons
at present employed discharged,
solely on the basis of the fact that
they are aliens or that they were
formerly nationals of any particular
foreign country. A general condem-
nation OF any group or class OF per-
sons is unfair and dangerous to the
war effort. The Federal Govern
ment is taking the necessary steps
to guard against, and punish, any
subversive acts by disloyal persons,
citizens as well as aliens.
Provisions Of Statutes.
80. There are no legal restrictions
on the employment of any person
(a) in non-war industries, and CD
even In war industries, II the par
ticular labor is not on classified
contracts, which include secret, con-
fidential, restricted, and aeronauti-
cal contracts.
THE laws of the United States do
provide that in certain special In
stances involving Government con-
tracts an employer must secure from
the head of the Government depart
ment concerned permission to en-
ploy aliens. Section HAD Of the
act of June %, 1910 public No.
671, 10th Congress, Sd SESSION. con-
tains provision that:
"'No aliens employed by a con-
tractor In the performance Of secret,
confidential or restricted Govern
ment contracts shall be permitted
to have access to the plans or speci-
.fications, or the work under such
contracts, or to participate in the
contract trials, unless the written
consent of the head of the Govern
ment department concerned has
first been obtained -
THE Air Corps Act of 1926 has 9
similar provision:
-. no aliens employed by a con-
tractor for furnishing or construct
ing aircraft parts or aeronautica
accessories for the United State.
shall be permitted to have access tt
the plans or specifications or thu
work under construction or to par.
ticipate in the contract trials with.
out the written consent beforehand
| OF the Secretary of the Department
concerned"
Blank Forms Provided.
There are no other Federal law
which restrict the employment O
aliens by private employers in ma
tional war industries. There ART
no Federal laws restricting the EN-
ployment Of foreign born citizens o
any particular national origin.
"3. Where, under the law, permis
sion to employ aliens Is require
from the War and Navy Depart
ments, the alien shall go to tn
nearest office of the United State
Employment Service, which will fur
nish him with application form, an
assist him in filling 1t out. tn
completed form will then be sub
mitted by the alien to the employe
who will fill out the reverse side 6
the form, and then immediatel
forward same to the department
eoneeg1eA 0pon soeolpe 6 q
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