The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1953-01-10
Presidents Board Backs
Naturalization Equality

/ Therefore. the commissions pro-
posal TO establish. within the re
commended maximum annual quo
tn of PSI, 162, a three-year statutory
priority of 100000 annually for the
admission of refugees expcllees, es-
capees, and remaining displaced
persons, does not apply to Asians.
with the possible exception of the
japanese
Pointing out that the commission.
in every instance. viewed Japanese
immigration problems to be differ
ent from those of other Asians, the
Washington office of the JACL
Ado declared that much of the a
WareneSs of goernment officials with
the needs of persons of Japanese
ancestry could be attributed to the
IACL AIDES past public relations
work
| Illustrate of the distinction which
the commission draws is the follow
ing passage from the report.
| Except for Japan which resem-
bles the European countries in this
respect the situation in Asia is ocm-
pletely different The structure
and birth rate of the Asian popula-
lions. and the stage of economic de
velopment of their countries. are all
quite different from those of the
European countries Only in Japan.
with its rapidly declining birth rate
can migration offer real relief for
population pressures in the next
few years
In the area of nationality laws.
tho Presidents Commission recog-
nizes that the Walter McCarran
Act brings into being substantial
advances over previous legislation.
The report states;
I'm certain respects, the act of
1852 made significant improvements
i'm the nationality laws Among these
were the complete abolition of the
racial disqualifications, confirma-
/ tion of the right TO naturalization
of conscientious DIRECTORS on reIigi-
! Gus scrupIes. elimination of the for
! NAL declaration of intention as a
prerequisite for citizenship and re-
movaI of the Iiteracy requirement
for older people"
! Issued simultaneously with the re
port. which bears the title. Whom
We Shall Welcome" was a 2089
page volume published by the HOUSE
/ Judiciary Committee containing the
+ testimonies in the hearings before
the Presidents Commission on I'M
migration and Naturalization
The commission held hearings in
II cities across the nation In these
hearings. the JACL Ado was repre-
scented in San Francisco by Haruo
Ishimaru. Northern California re-
gional director in Los Angeles by
Tats Kushida. Southern California
regional director, and in Washing
ton. D. c.. by Richard Akagi assist
ant Washington representatie.
After calling attention to the sa-
lutary international effect of the e
nactment of the Walter-M cCarran
Act, Ishimaru in his testimony de
clared: we feel it is imperative
that we recognize the responsibility
IL
Istrating her principles of democra-
Icy and equality; If there are any
lchanges necessary in this legislation,
we hope that it will be done with a
full realization that the United
States must demonstrate complete
lequality regardless of race or ma
combined effort Of all the people in
the United States this Will become
a more perfect piece of legislation
Kushida in Los Angeles men
toned the legal handicaps endured
by the immigrant japanese because
of their racial ineligibility to Anne
1
that further liberalizations of the
law be made but with an eye to the
internal and external security of
the United States. "If there is any
way in which the law can be fur
Their liberalized." Kushida said, I'VE
would like to see the liberalizations
extended in keeping with security
and in fairness to all groups"
| In Washington d c. Akagi ask
ed the commission remember the
needs of the Orient as well as those
OF Europe we urge that any liber-
alization in immigration and natur-
alization." said Akagi be not franz
ed solely for the benefit Of persons
coming from Europe, but that these
iberalizaticns be made without re-
gard to race and national origin"