LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
From: Robert .S. Moore, George Edinger,' M. M. Carlin. Elizabeth Stamp, Felix Greene, George E. Assinder, Robert Noll, L. IC Towle, Lilian Knapp.
Defending the White Paper
Hattersley•seetns to be under the illusion that his public utterances on immigration are taken seriously. He has himself ignored facts, presented either as facts or dressed in a little knockabout (as in Professor Rex's letter of August 27). Mr. Hattersley has exposed himself and his arguments in half a dozen journals and newspapers and has made a series of assertions, in attempting to defend a position which is meeting considerable public contempt, without ever trying to meet actual criti- cisms.
If Mr. Hattersley wants to be taken seriously, he must answer the questions which he has ignored from the beginning of the debate. Firstly, does he agree that the policies proposed in the White Paper on immigration are intended to cut down coloured immigration? Secondly, in the light of his initial defence of this policy, does he believe that 'Com- monwealth' immigrants' create greater pressure on social resources than non-Commonwealth (especi- ally Irish) immigrants?
A third question arises from his letter of Sep- tember 3. What information does Mr. Hattersley have on the execution of Birmingham's housing allo- cation policy other than that provided by Birming- ham's ruling Labour group?
When these questions are answered, sensible dis- cussion of the other points that Mr. Hattersley raises may be possible.
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