Evening star., 1950-10-13
U. 5. Experts Studying
Ban Against Entry
OF Fa|angist Aliens
By Gornett D. Horner

By Gornett D. Horner
Government legal experts were
struggling today with the prob
lem of whether to apply the new
Internal Security Acts ban
against "totalitarian" foreigners
to Falangists of Franco Spain.
The ban has not been applied to
them so far. but only to present or
past members of Communist, Nazi
or Fascist organizations. Officials
hope it may be unnecessary to-
make the formal blacklist" any
more extensive for the present.
Since Communists already were
barred under previous regulations,
the chief effect has been deten-
ton at Ellis Island of scores of
Germans and Italians once linked
to naziSm or faScism.
To head off arrival of others
not already on the high seas who
might face detention, American
diplomatic and consular officials
all over the world were ordered
yesterday to suspend all viSaS held
by aliens for trips to this country
until they could be rescreened in
the light of the "totalitarian" ban.
Must Report to Congress.
Regulations issued so far provide
that the suspended viSas can be
revalidated for persons ever be-
longing to any Communist, Nazi
or Fascist group only if the At
torney General grants them spe-
cial exemptions.
The new law provides that the
Attorney General can waive the
'"totalitarian" ban for any in
dividual whose temporary admis-
sion he finds would be in the pub
lie interest, or desirable in the
conduct of foreign relations. He
must make a full report to Con-
gress on each such case. i
The 200 or more persons de-
tanned at Ellis Island by immi-
grafton inspectors so far pre-
Sumably came here with visas
issued before the new lav- became
effective.
Face Investigations.
Most of them faced investiga-
tions as to their past Nazi or
Fascist connections before they
might be cleared. granted special
exemptions for entry or deported. |
Fourteen Italian musicians arriv-
ing for goodwill tour were re-
leased yesterday after being de-
tanned about two hours.
A definite ruling on whether
the totalitarian ban applies to
such regimes as that of Franco
Spain is a delicate matter for
administrative officials.
President Truman said the law
did so apply. in his message of
September % vetoing the meas
ure. Congress passed the law over
his veto. And before it did so.
Senator McCarran, Democrat, of
Nevada. one of the sponsors of
the measure, said it was not in
tended to apply to Spain.
- Such statements as that byE
Senator McCarran must be taken
into account as part of the 'leg-
islative history" of the law by
administrative officials making
rules for its application.
Veto Message Quoted.
In his veto message, President
Truman said:
AS one instance, it is clear that, |
under definitions of the bill, the
present government of Spain,
among others, would be classified
as 'totalitarian'. AS result, the
Attorney General would be re-
quired to exclude from the United
States all Spanish businessmen.
students and other non-official
travellers who support the present
government of Spain. I can't un-
derstand how the sponsors of this
bill can think that such an action
would contribute to our national
security"
The tendency among officials
concerned with administration of
the law is to consider that Con-
gress did not intend the totali-
tarlan ban to apply to Spain or
such other countries as Argentina
and the Dominican Republic
whose governments might appear
to be covered by the letter of the
law.
There was no prediction as to
how soon definite rulings may be
made on this point and other
problems on which the State and
Justice Departments are attempt
Ing to work out agreed interpre-
tations
Inquiries Swamp Embassies.
American embassies and con-
sulates in Europe were swamped
today by travellers inquiring about
the status Of their visas, the AS
soclated Press reported.
Ill boIlCloIl Tie embassy notlfled
all air and ship lines that alien
passengers must return their visas
for "revalidation.
= In Paris priority was given to
those already booked to sail. Ar
rangements were made to have a
consular officer ride the boat train
to LIE Havre to sped revalidations
for those scheduled to leave on
the United States Lines Wash
sington.
e In Rome the consulate an
nounced it will stay open on Sat-
.urday, usually a holiday, to take
care of the rush.
- An estimated 1000 or more Ger
mans holding unused United
States visas were to be processed