Congressman SAMUEL DICKSTEIN, MORGANTOWN, W. VA., March 6, 1945. Chairman, House Immigration Committee: Wish to express our opposition to the measure set forth in bills H. R. 173, S. 236, and S. 331 which come before your honorable committee for hearings this week. We are strictly opposed to any change in that section of the revised statutes of the United States as upheld by the Supreme Court which prohibits naturalization for people of color. We appeal to your committee to table said bills. Request this telegram be published in opposition to bills. MRS. MAUD V. NIGH, Chairman, Legislative Committee, National EDGEWOOD, R. I., March 5, 1945. MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS: SIRS: As head of a fraternity who stand back of proper kind of patriotic legislation, representing over 750 members and vital to 750 families and perhaps to over 2,000 American citizens of the United States of America; I respectfully ask and urge you to again use your power and influence to defeat and oppose those bills concerning East Indian immigration and naturalization, bills H. R. 173, H. R. 1584, H. R. 1624, and H. R. 2256. These bills were defeated 2 years ago and we again urge their defeat at this time. Keep jobs for our American soldiers for them on their return to civilian life. Fraternally and respectfully. NATHAN W. Arnold, State Councilor of Rhode Island, Junior Order of United American Mechanics. 415 HAMILTON STREET, AUGUSTA, Ga., March 3, 1945. CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE: DEAR SIR: This is to inform your committee that District No. 4 of Georgia, Daughters of America, opposes the bills coming up before you March 7 and 8 providing for the naturalization of East Indian Hemisphere Indians. We also oppose them coming in as immigrants. Thank you, Hon. SAMUEL DICKSTEIN, AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. DICKSTEIN: We desire to express to you, as chairman of the Committee on Immigration, and to the committee, our support of H. R. 1584 by Mrs. Luce, and H. R. 173 by Mr. Celler, authorizing the naturalization of East Indians in the United States and a quota for immigration purposes. The Civil Liberties Union supports these identical bills on the ground that no discrimination between the peoples of the world should be made in fixing quotas or admitting residents to citizenship. The policy of excluding certain oriental peoples from quotas and naturalization is now indefensible in view of the purposes of this war. In our judgment it was indefensible even at the time it was adopted, for it created a division of humanity into first- and second-class peoples. ment has been rife throughout the Orient ever since, and has been a great deal increased by Japanese propaganda during the war. Resent The Congress has already repealed the Oriental Exclusion Act as it applies to our Chinese allies. There is a case to be equally for Filipinos, (who are already permitted a quota, but not naturalization). The case for East Indians may not be so clear in terms of active military participation, but it is even clearer in terms of its potential effects. For it would be a morale-building measure among the millions of East Indians who distrust the democratic professions of the United Nations based upon the failure to settle the question of India's political status. If the United States now recognizes the right of Indians to a quota and to naturalization, it would hearten not only the Indian people throughout the world, but the oriental peoples generally, who sympathize with India's aspirations. In the interest both of justice without discrimination against any people because of their race, and in the practical interest of raising the morale for the United Nations' cause in the Orient, we trust the bills will have your committee's favorable report. Very sincerely yours, Hon. SAMUEL DICKSTEIN, THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, Chairman, House Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. DICKSTEIN: I learn that hearings are to be held on March 7 on House bills H. R. 173 and H. R. 1584, the former introduced by Hon. Emanuel Celler and the latter by Hon. Clare Booth Luce. These bills, I understand, are to authorize the naturalization and the admission into the United States under a quota of Indians of India. Knowing both America and India, as I do, I firmly believe, that these bills, if passed, would do tremendous good to all concerned, and would do no harm to anybody. I have met many Indians from all walks of life. They all feel that the present restrictions discriminate against them. The passage of the above bills, feel certain, would remove artificial barriers between two peoples and set a pattern for good things to come. America would win a grateful nation of friends and set another example of American justice and fair play. The Indians of India and their descendants, I firmly believe, can become integral parts of the American society and system. They are capable of contributing to American life like the peoples who have come here from other lands. As an example, I humbly submit the record of one of them, who came here a quarter of a century ago and to whom living in America has been an honor and a privilege. The passage of the above bills would have far-reaching effects especially at this opportune time. Mrs. Luce and Mr. Celler deserve lots of credit for their farsightedness and statesmanship. I humbly urge that their bills be given favorable consideration. Yours very truly, S. S. SIDHU, Associate Professor of Physics and Director of X-ray Laboratory. LOS ANGELES, CALIF., March 7, 1945. Hon. SAMUEL DICKSTEIN, Chairman, House Immigration Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: Strongly urge favorable consideration by your committee of Luce-Celler bill granting citizenship and small annual quota to nationals of India. This bill will revoke injustice against citizens of our great ally, India, and do much to establish world peace. Hugh E. MacBeth, International Committee Lawyers Club of Los Webb, 1788 West Thirty-sixth Street, Los Angeles, Twentieth Century Study Club; Mrs. Lucille Bufford, President, 1466 West Thirty-fifth Place, Los Angeles; Dr. E. C. Farnham, President, Church Federation of Los Angeles, 3330 West Adams; Liberty Building & Loan of Los Angeles, Louis Blodgett, President, 3086 West Eleventh Street, Los Angeles; Mrs. Nella A. Blodgett, member, Womens Political Study Club, 3086 West Eleventh Street, Los Angeles; Realty Brokers, George R. Smith, President, 1102 South Serrano, Los Angeles; Josephine D. Smith, Teacher, Los Angeles Schools, 1102 South Serrano, Los Angeles; Mamie Waugh, Member, League of Women Voters, 1152 South Irolo Street, Los Angeles; Attorney, F. M. Andreuni, 4303 West First Street, Los Angeles, Chairman, Democratic County Central Committee, Sixty-second Assembly; Miss Fay Allen, 546 East Jefferson, Los Angeles; Librarian, Research Society, Mrs. Senola Reeves Green, President, 2215 South Harvard; Womens Society of Christian Service; Mrs. E. W. Rakestraw, President, 1028 East Forty-third Place, Los Angeles; Wesleyan Service Guild; Miss Hazel A. MacBeth, President, 1512 West Jefferson Boulevard; Altruistic Club; Miss Elevyn Williams, President, 1227 North Commonwealth, Los Angeles; Universal Church Center, 3209 Griffith Avenue; Miss Bessie Simon, President; Negro Voters League; Miss Echo S. Robinson, President, 1025 Vernon Avenue, Los Angeles; The Five and Over Club; Mrs. E. Robinson, 7771⁄2 East Forty-sixth Street; California State Association of Colored Women, Southern Section, 152 Thirty-sixth Place, Los Angeles; Sojourner Truth Home; Mrs. Cornelia Robeson, President; Los Angeles, County Negro Democratic Club; Gilbert Lindsay, 226 East Forty-sixth Street, Los Angeles; Bronze Hour Radio Production, Gilbert Lindsay, Production Manager; Eighth Council District, Sixty-second Assembly District, Democratic Women, Mrs. G. Lindsay, District Chairman; Married Womens Literary and Art Guild, Mrs. Anna Livingston, President, 3939 Dorsey, Los Angeles. Hon. SAM DICKSTEIN, Member Immigration Committee, STOCKTON, CALIF., March 13, 1945. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: Our association representing approximately 2,100 Indian residents of the Pacific Coast respectfully urges your favorable consideration the Luce-Celler bill. PACIFIC COAST KHALSA DIWAN SOCIETY. Hon. SAMUEL DICKSTEIN, CENTRO, CALIF., March 14, 1945. Chairman, House Committee on Immigration, Washington, D. C.: Our association represents 210 Indians (Hindustanees) and we strongly urge your support of the Luce-Celler bill alone. HINDUSTANEE CIVIL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA. Congressman SAMUEL DICKSTEIN, LOS ANGELES, CALIF., March 2, 1945. Chairman, House Immigration Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: As a matter of human fairness to the people of India and in justification of our own principles of democracy, we urgently request your honorable committee to report favorably for immediate passage of H. R. 1584, the Celler-Luce bill, coming before your committee on March 7. UNITED RACES OF AMERICA, Hon. SAMUEL DICKSTEIN, WEST LOS ANGELES, CALIF., March 6, 1945. Chairman, Immigration and Naturalization Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. In line with Watumull Foundation's policy of promoting cultural cooperation between the United States and India, we sincerely urge favorable consideration Luce-Celler bill by your committee. Removal of discrimination against citizens of the oldest civilized country in the world will be a momentous step in advancing cultural relations and furthering human justice. Hon. SAMUEL DICKSTEIN, ELLEN WATUmull, Chairman, Distribution Committee. WEST LOS ANGELES, CALIF., March 6, 1945. Chairman, Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: America India Educational League wholeheartedly supports Luce-Celler bill for naturalization of East Indians. We sincerely hope Congress will pass this bill, thus removing discrimination against the nationals of a great fighting ally. We respectfully request that hearing on Lynch bill be postponed until the final disposition of Luce-Celler bill; we believe Lynch bill is discriminatory. Hon. Mr. DICKSTEIN, AMERICA INDIA EDUCATIONAL LEAGUE, BRAWLEY, CALIF., March 6, 1945. Chairman of the House Immigration Committee, Washington, D. C.: The Hindustan Welfare Society of America very strongly favors the passage of Celler bill of the Congress which is set for hearing on March 7 by your committee. This organization most respectfully urge your committee to make most favorable recommendation to the Congress for the passage of his bill. It prefers this bill in lieu of Lynch bill. which is wholly inadequate, unsatisfactory, and objectionable in many respects. BAGGA S. SUNGH, Secretary. Hon. SAMUEL DICKSTEIN, WEST LOS ANGELES, CALIF., March 7, 1945. Chairman, House Immigration Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: At meeting held in Los Angeles I was authorized to convey to you the consensus of opinion of East Indians in southern California that they request favorable consideration by your committee of Luce-Celler bill, We have every hope that by the passage of the Luce-Celler bill the discrimination against us will be eliminated. J. N. SHARMA. LOS ANGELES, CALIF., March 7, 1945. Hon. SAMUEL DICKSTEIN, Chairman, Immigration and Naturalization Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: Our members and sympathizers wish that Celler-Luce bill for extending rights of American citizenship to the nationals of India be adopted. Abraham Lincoln would wish that as just and righteous policies of equality and impartiality of American democracy and ideals of makers of the immortal Constitution of these United States. KOREAN REVOLUTIONARY PART COMMITTEE, LOS ANGELES, CALIF., March 7, 1945. Hon. SAMUEL DICKSTEIN, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: Heartily recommend Celler-Luce bill be adopted for American citizenship privileges for Hindus bringing them in same status as Chinese and other European nationals, thus eliminating prejudices and fulfilling principles of the Atlantic Charter for one of our actively fighting ally of over 2,000,000 soldiers. We must faithfully remember India has sacrificed and starved her people so that the allied soldiers may eat. CHINA CULTURE SOCIETY, RAY CANNON. Hon. SAMUEL DICKSTEIN, LOS ANGELES, CALIF., March 7, 1945. Chairman, Immigration and Naturalization: The policy of America's great President Roosevelt in proclaiming the Atlantic Charter and the "four freedoms" as basis of equality and friendly cooperation of all world nations automatically endorses the recommendations desired by the Luce-Celler bill for the Hindus to become United States citizens. Passing of this bill will doom the Japanese propaganda in Asia and right the wrong done to America's ally in war, a harmless highly cultured and a spiritual nation. UNITED KOREAN NATIONAL WAR COMMITTEE, Chairman, Immigration and Naturalization Committee, United States House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. DICKSTEIN: It was my intention to appear before the committee to testify in favor of the pending bills advocating that the right of United States citizenship by naturalization be extended to the people of India. But owing to unavoidable circumstances, it is physically impossible for me to be at Washington during the hearing. Therefore I am making the following short statement which I hope will be incorporated as a part of the proceedings: As an American citizen, I favor the bill, H. R. 1584, introduced by Mrs. Luce, H. R. 173, introduced by Mr. Celler, in particular for two definite reasons. (a) Passage of the bill into law will remove a stigma of "racial discrimination" practiced by the United States as part of its legal system. Any form of racial discrimination is un-American in spirit and any form of anti-Asianism is against the real interests of the United States. (b) I believe that "all races resident in our country (the United States) should have means of becoming citizens. It is vital to the integrity of the Nation. We should condemn no race of men to permanent outlawry, a line of policy disastrous wherever it has been tried." I sincerely hope that your committee will recommend such a bill which will entitle the people of India the same right in matters of immigation and naturalization as the people of Britain, Russia, China, and other peoples enjoy in the United States. I naturally approve a bill which will entitle the Indians already in this country the right of citizenship, by naturalization; but my real interest is that the law should be so inclusive that the people of India will have at least the same right as the British, the Russians, and the Chinese. With the kindest regards and deepest appreciation of your interest in upholding Special Lecturer on Oriental History and World Politics, the College of the |