Immigration Commissioner Asked to Ease Restrictions for Polish Jews

JAMES L. HOUGHTERLING, RECENTLY-APPOINTED IMMIGRATION COMMISSIONER, TOLD A DELEGATION FROM THE FEDERATION OF POLISH JEWS IN AMERICA TODAY THAT IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES WERE SYMPATHETIC TO THEIR PLEA FOR A MORE LIBERAL ATTITUDE TOWARD JEWS WISHING TO LEAVE POLAND FOR THE UNITED STATES.

HE SAID HE WOULD DO WHATEVER HE COULD. SECRETARY OF LABOR FRANCES PERKINS, WHO WAS SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE THE DELEGATION BUT WAS CALLED TO THE WHITE HOUSE, WAS UNDERSTOOD ALSO TO BE SYMPATHETIC.

REPRESENTATIVE EMANUEL CELLER, WHO HEADED THE DELEGATION, TOLD MR. HOUGHTERLING THAT AMERICAN CONSULS IN POLAND “MAY BE ACTING NOT WITHOUT BIAS.” HE SAID THAT CONDITIONS IN POLAND WARRANTED A MORE LIBERAL ATTITUDE. IN THE FACE OF “MERCILESS PERSECUTION,” HE SAID, THE CONSULS HAVE TAKEN A “VERY HARSH, CRUEL ATTITUDE.”