WASHINGTON: Representative Samuel Dickstein, Democrat of New York and chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Immigration and Naturalisation, said in an O.W.I. interview that his bill providing immigration rights to Indians who wish to come to the United States had been laid aside by the house committee because of technical difficulties inherent in legislative procedure and that he planned to introduce a new bill with the same provisions in Congress within the next few weeks.

He said he felt confident it would be reported favourably in response to President Roosevelt’s request, stating that the present laws are “incongruous and inconsistent with the dignity of both of our peoples”.

Roosevelt, in his letter of March 5 to the committee, stated that legislation permitting entry of Indians into the United States under a quota was “important and desirable” and its enactment would “help us win the war and establish and secure the peace”. Dickstein, in his interview, said: “At least Indians should not be unduly alarmed. The mere fact that a political situation resulting from party alignments has arisen is not an indication of the public attitude. I will bring the bill before the committee again in a new version…”

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2020