Secretary of Labor Davis never issued an order admitting Englishmen or any other aliens in excess of the quota nor has he shown any preference to Englishmen, according to a statement made by a spokesman of Mr. Davis to your correspondent today.
The original press report is absolutely false. What actually happened was that during October certain advance allowance was given each immigration port, based on the number expected to apply. Contrary to expectations a disproportionately late number applied at Ellis Island. Secretary Davis on the day the press report originated, confronted with this congestion, ordered that all excess cases on Ellis Island be admitted on parole pending careful check-up on other ports, upon the express condition that these aliens be deported if it later appeared that unexhausted number from other ports was insufficient to cover these parole cases. This check-up has now been made, he said, and revealed sufficient quota for all paroled aliens, all of whom will therefore be permitted to remain permanently.
In view of accusations against Secretary Davis, an investigation has been made to determine the status of the nationalities admitted. It shows five Jews admitted to every Englishman, the spokesman for Mr. Davis asserted.
The check-up also revealed, however, that the Russian quota for the balance of the year is positively exhausted, and all aliens now detained at any port for exceeding quota will be deported. The present delay is intended only for the time necessary for the routine disposition of appeals.
Asked if any of these could be admitted on humanitarian grounds grounds, Mr. Davis’ spokesman said. “No”, as the Secretary possessed no discretion to do so, these aliens must be deported and no hope for them unless they come under specific exemptions or exceptions under law, he added.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
