Net German Immigration to U.S. 7,000 in 4 Years, Mcdonald Declares

James G. McDonald, chairman of President Roosevelt’s Advisory Committee on Refugees, declared at a press conference today, before leaving for Evian, that estimates of refugees from Germany who had come to the United States were exaggerated. Since Hitler came to power, until June 30, 1937, there was a net German immigration of 7, 108, he said.

Mr. McDonald will leave for Quebec tomorrow, from where he will sail Saturday afternoon on the Empress of Britain. Asked whether he knew of any move in the United States to change immigration regulations, he said that “I know of none that have any chance of success.” He declared that the question of refugees was less Jewish than it had been because of the problem of the Catholics in Austria. He predicted that in the future, the proportion of Christian refugees would further increase. He estimated that a total of approximately 150,000 persons have left Germany since Hitler’s secession to power.

Stressing his capacity as an adviser to Myron C. Taylor, American delegate to the Evian conference, Mr. McDonald declined to discuss the meeting or the possible results arising from it. His statement regarding German immigration to the United States follows:

“Comparison of the numbers of German immigrant aliens admitted to the United States since Hitler came into power with the numbers of German emigrants who have left the United States for permanent residence elsewhere discloses that up to June 30, 1937 there was a net immigration of German immigrants into the United States of 7,108. This is borne out by the following tables:

Immigrant aliens admitted from Germany. German emigrant aliens who left the United States for permanent residence elsewhere. Excess: Admitted Departed

“The President, in his note of invitation to the Governments to attend the Conference on Refugees at Evian, France, on July 6, stated: ‘Furthermore, it should be understood that no country would be expected or asked to receive a greater number of immigrants than is permitted by its existing legislation.’ The pertinent legislation in the United States is the Immigration Act of 1924, the so-called Quota Act: Under the Act the total number of German quota immigrants who can enter the United States is 25,957, and the total number of Austrian quota immigrants is 1,413. Since the recent incorporation of Austria into the German Reich, have, under the provisions of the law, been amalgamated so that Germany and the territory of former Austria are allowed a maximum immigration into the United States of 27,370 a year.

“Total admissions of immigrant aliens from Germany in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1938 will substantially exceed the 10,895 admitted in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1937, because 7,949 immigrant aliens were admitted from Germany in the first six months from July 1to December 30, 1937. Presumably, admissions of German immigrant aliens in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1939 will be greater than those of the present fiscal year, but in no case can exceed the maximum number of the quota, 27,370. These figures should correct exaggerated estimates of the numbers of refugees who may be admitted in coming months as a result of the President’s action.”