18. The Minister of Mines and Resources submitted three recommendations to Council relating to immigration matters.

Two of these provided respectively for exception of immigrants of Armenian, Lebanese and Syrian origin from Order in Council P.C.21 l5 of September 16th, 1930, which prohibits admission of immigrants of "Asiatic race", and for inclusion of Armenian, Lebanese and Syrian immigrants in the admissible classes defined by Order in Council P.C.4849 of November 26th&dagger 1947.

The third provided that Newfoundlanders and citizens of Ireland would no longer be subject to the passport regulations established by Order in Council P.C.4851 of November 26th† 1947.

(Minister's recommendations to Council, Apr.28 and Apr.29, 1949)†

19. The Secretary of State for External Affairs noted that the recommendation for exception of Armenians, Lebanese and Syrians from the Order in Council prohibit­ing the admission to Canada of Asiatics might create difficulties in pointing up the position of Turks and Palestinians and might also re‑open the question of the status of Indians under the immigration regulations.

20. Mr. Pearson pointed out that the only portion of Armenia presently consti­tuted as a state was one of the Soviet Republics within the U.S.S.R. In the circum­stances, it might be preferable to avoid any reference to Armenians.

21. The Prime Minister suggested that consideration might be given to the estab­lishment in Canada of a quota system for the admission of all immigrants. This would avoid most of the difficulties referred to by the Secretary of State for Exter­nal Affairs.

22. The Cabinet, after considerable further discussion, agreed:

(a) that the two recommendations to Council relating to immigrants of Arme­nian, Lebanese and Syrian origin be not approved;

(b) that the provisions of the Immigration regulations applicable to European countries, other than the United Kingdom and France, be extended to Syria and Lebanon;²¹ and,

(c) that decision on the recommendation relating to Newfoundlanders and citi­zens of Ireland be deferred pending further consideration.