Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that the National Archives' website and collection contain the names, images and voices of people who have died.
Some records include terms and views that are not appropriate today. They reflect the period in which they were created and are not the views of the National Archives.
Letter to Prime Minister Stanley Bruce about American immigration restrictions
[Letterhead in black ink for ‘GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA’, ‘OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’.]
[Stamped in red ink ‘PRIME MINISTER’S DEPT’, illegible date, with handwritten reference number ‘B156/1/181’ inside the stamp.]
[Stamped in red ink ‘REC’D’ (received) ‘APR 7 1925’.]
[Stamped in red ink ‘APR 8 1925’ and ‘APR 7 1925’.]
6th March, 1925.
No.25/85.
The Rt.Hon. S.M. Bruce, P.C., M.P.,
Prime Minister of Australia,
Melbourne.
My dear Mr Prime Minister,
[Underlined heading:] AMERICAN IMMIGRATION AND ITS LESSON TO AUSTRALIA.
Since my arrival in this country I have fully realized from personal observation and experience the reason which actuated the United States Government in the limitation of immigrants from certain countries and in recently amending its immigration laws.
Every day brings its sad story of murders and other similar happenings in this city and in other parts of America, and although we must avoid any gesture which looks like pointing the finger at this country, one cannot fail to be impressed by what one sees and reads. The great bulk of the excesses are due to the citizens of those nations and their descendants against whose intending immigrants America’s new quota laws are specially directed.
From the window of this office I look down on the Ellis Island Ferry Building. Through this building immigrants enter New York, and in one year prior to the fixing of the quotas, as many as one million
immigrants entered this city. A recent issue of the “Saturday Evening Post’, contained the cartoon which I enclose herewith, showing the horde passing through the Arch, nearly all of whom are directing their steps to the tenements,
COPY WITH ENC.. TO H. & T. (consideration & advice)
