Isidore Herschfield, Washington representative of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), and Elias A. Cohen, appeared before the House Immigration Committee in support of Congressman Dickstein’s bill to revoke the Executive order of President Hoover which suspended the issuance of visas to aliens, particularly to relatives of citizens and residents in this country.
Isidore Herschfield, supported by E. A. Cohen made strong and eloquent representations in favor of revoking the order.
Witnesses in support of the Dickstein bill included Congressmen Adolph J. Sabath and Emanuel Celler.
At the request of the Committee, Assistant Secretary of State Carr submitted an explanation of the method followed by Consuls in the enforcement of the Executive order. The Committee was also given an opportunity of examining the instructions issued to the Consuls by the State Department regarding the Executive order suspending the visas to relatives of residents and citizens.
A number of witnesses appeared in opposition to the bill, including Major General Amos J. Fries, Retired, and Mr. Trevor, representing a coalition of American patriotic societies.
It was decided that the bill should be revised and rephrased, and action thereon was deferred until next week, when the Committee will meet in Executive session.
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