Stratton Bill Cannot Solve Basic Problem of Jewish Dp’s, Gillette Tells House Committee

Passage by Congress of the Stratton Bill would not solve the fundamental problem of the displaced Jews of Europe, former Senator Guy Gillette, who is president of the American League for a Free Palestine, today told the House Sub-Committee on Immigration.

Gillette, who expressed support of the measure, said that he was appearing to clear up any confusion that might result from the testimony of some Jewish groups and prominent individual Jews who had appeared before the committee to speak for the bill, which would allow 400,000 displaced persons to enter the U.S. over a four-year period.

“It is of paramount importance that consideration of this bill shall not be taken to mean that admission to the United States of certain numbers of DP’s could even in part substitute for the only solution of the Hebrew DP problem in Europe; repatriation to their homeland–Palestine,” Gilletts said.

Rep. Frank Fellows, chairman of the sub-committee, said that he had been told that 95 percent of the Jewish DP’s wanted to go to Palestine, and asked whether they should be brought to the U.S. “against their will.” Rep. Ed. Gosset cited figures from the American Jewish Year Book to show that between 1907 and 1946 the Jewish population of the U.S. increased by 4,000,000. He commented that he did not think the Jewish people had any right to complain about immigration to the U.S. Rep. Emanuel Celler pointed out that the bill did not provide for the entry only of Jews.

Spokesmen for the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars testified in opposition to the measure, declaring that no additional immigrants should be admitted since they would compete with veterans for homes and jobs. Hearings will be resumed on Wednesday.