U.S. Immigration Legislation Criticized at Migration Parley

The United States Government was criticized for lacking the “liberal spirit” in its immigration legislation, in an address here today by Arthur Greenleigh, executive director of the United HIAS Service. Mr. Greenleigh was one of a number of speakers participating in the general debate of the fifth international conference of Non-Governmental Organizations interested in Migration. Fifty-one non-governmental groups are officially accredited to the conference, including six Jewish organizations.

“Much of the obstacle to resettlement of migrants is caused by restrictive legislation and rigid interpretation of that legislation,” Mr. Greenleigh said. “The liberal spirit is lacking from the immigration legislation of too large a segment of the free world. Even in the country in which this conference is being held, legislation regarding immigration has become increasingly restrictive rather than liberal. And in this very country we have recently witnessed the dismissal from government of a courageous and competent official who dared try to interpret the restrictive legislation in as liberal a manner as the statutes permitted.”

At the same session Dr. Gerhard Jacoby, delegate of the World Jewish Congress, introduced a resolution that would put the conference behind the plans of the United Nations Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to make a complete study of immigration, emigration and travel . The six Jewish organizations represented at the parley are: Agudas Israel World Organization; Consultative Council of Jewish Organization; United HIAS Service; World Jewish Congress; World ORT Union, and World OSE Union.