An attack on the unlimited authority granted consuls in immigration visa matters was made yesterday by Isadore Hershfield, Washington representative of the Hias, when he appeared before the House Immigration Committee in support of the Dickstein bill enabling an official appeal to the Secretary of State from refusals by consular authorities to grant immigration visas.
Assistant Secretary of State Wilbur J. Carr, who appeared in opposition to the bill, declared that the rulings of consuls were invariably fair and that there was no need for creating appellate procedure.
The Hias representative called for abandonment of the doctrine of “consular infallibility.”
The hearing yesterday followed a previous hearing on the bill introduced by Congressman Sol Bloom to grant a two-year stay to Germans now in this country who do not wish to return to Germany because of political conditions there. A number of representatives of the so-called “patriotic” societies appeared in opposition at that time. The committee has taken no action on either of the bills pending and it is doubtful whether Congress will find it possible to act on either of them before adjournment.
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