The State Department made known today that at least a half dozen foreign nations have protested against the provisions of the McCarran-Walter Immigration Act, which is slated to go into effect on December 24.
Great Britain and France have delivered notes to the Department while other countries, including Italy, Norway, Belgium, Sweden, and the Netherlands protested orally. The protests were directed specifically against new regulations which require such careful screening of the members of the crew of each ship touching at American ports that friendly nations operating vessels fear it will seriously hamper the “turn-around schedule” of vessels.
The State Department said today through a spokesman that it feels it is too early to tell if any legislative modification of the Act is needed. The Department said it had “no alternative” but to execute the law but it would take “every step” to alleviate the anxiety of foreign governments and shippers.
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.
