Congress Hears Pleas for Liberalization of Immigration Laws

Liberalization of the immigration laws was urged today in the House by a Democratic Congressman as a living tribute to the late Dr. Albert Einstein.

Rep. Robert H. Mollohan of West Virginia said that the most fitting honor this country could pay Dr. Einstein was for the House to liberalize the Relugee Relief Act of 1953 “in order that future Dr. Einsteins, whether potential or recognized, shall not be barred from our shores because of our preoccupation with unworthy fears, mistrust, and discrimination against the stranger who knocks at our gates.”

Another Congressman told the House that the McCarran Walter Act is suffocating immigration both in theory and practice. Thomas J. Lane, of Massachusetts, called the quota system a reflection of “the fears and hysterias of our times” and an example of conforming to ancient prejudices. He suggested that investigation should be turned on the “motives behind the operations of the Immigration Act and Refugee Relief Act” and “not on innocent people.”

Edward J. Corsi, ousted State Department immigration adviser, today told a Senate subcommittee investigating the Refugee Act administration that he was first approached by Maxwell Rabb, White House assistant, on the possibility of coming to Washington “to help speed up the refugee program.”

He said he “made clear” to Mr. Rabb and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles that “under no conditions would I work under (Scott) McLeod. I would only come in as a consultant to Dulles, the position which was offered me.”

Mr. Corsi stated the goal of immigrants and refugees to be admitted under the Immigration Act will be impossible to achieve unless the program is given “new, competent and sympathetic leadership now sadly lacking.”