COMMUNICATION FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE REQUESTING THAT LEGISLATION BE ENACTED TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO COVER THE EXPENSE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PARTICIPATION IN THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT HABANA COMMENCING MARCH 31, 1928

JANUARY 11 (calendar day, JANUARY 13), 1928.—Read; referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed

To the Congress of the United States:

I transmit herewith a communication from the Secretary of State requesting that legislation be enacted to provide funds to cover the expense of this Government's participation in the Second International Emigration and Immigration Conference to be held at Habana commencing March 31, 1928. The Secretary of State sets forth in his letter the reasons why it is considered advisable that the United States be represented at this conference.

I concur in the view of the Secretary of State that this Government should participate in the Second International Emigration and Immigration Conference, and therefore request of the Congress legislation appropriating $5,000 for each and every expense connected with the representation of the United States at that conference, including travel, subsistence or per diem in lieu thereof in amounts authorized in the discretion of the Secretary of State (notwithstanding the provisions of any other act), and compensation of employees as the Secretary of State shall consider necessary and authorize in his discretion.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, January 13, 1928.

66052-28

CALVIN COOLIDGE.

The PRESIDENT:

The Cuban Government, through its embassy in Washington, extended an invitation on July 18, 1927, to this Government to participate in the Second International Emigration and Immigration Conference, which will be held at Habana commencing March 31, 1928. On August 20, 1927, the Secretary of State sent a note to the Cuban Embassy requesting that the thanks of the United States Government for the invitation be conveyed to the Cuban Government and that the Cuban Government be informed that this Government would be glad to consider the invitation when it had had an opportunity to examine the agenda of the conference.

After copies of the agenda had been received, communications were addressed to the Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor on December 17, 1927, apprising them of the receipt of the invitation under discussion and transmitting copies of the agenda with the suggestion that a conference be held between representatives of the Department of State, the Department of Labor, and the United States Public Health Service for the purpose of discussing the question of participation in the conference to be held in Habana.

On December 29 representatives of the three departments met at the State Department and after due deliberation reached the conclusion that it would be advisable for the United States to send a delegation to the Habana conference because of the following considerations: First, the United States appears to be in some degree committed to such participation not only by reason of the fact that it was formally represented in the previous conference on the same subject held in Rome in 1924, but more especially in view of the fact that the chairman of the American delegation at that conference cast his vote in favor of the convening of a second conference, i. e., that to be held at Habana in March. Second, the conference is to be held in a Latin American country, and will be largely attended by delegates from the Latin American nations whose immigration problems are similar to those of this country, as was evidenced by their attitude at the recent meeting of the Interparliamentary Commercial Conference held at Rio de Janeiro in September of last year.

While the opinion of the conferees that the United States should accept the invitation was based chiefly on the considerations set forth in the foregoing paragraph, they did not lose sight of the advantage to this country in having the traditional position of the United States, that immigration is strictly a domestic matter, reaffirmed at this conference. Should delegates be appointed, they will accordingly be instructed to make clear this Government's position on immigration and to take no action inconsistent with the attitude and prerogatives of the Congress of the United States in this connection.

This matter has been submitted to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget who advises that it is not in conflict with the President's financial program.

I believe, therefore, that attendance at this conference will be in the public interest, and have the honor to recommend that, as an act of international courtesy and as a means of reaffirming the historic policy of this country on immigration and of cooperating with American countries with similar immigration problems, the Congress be requested to appropriate funds to cover the expense of sending a delegation to the Second International Emigration and Immigration

Conference. It is not believed an amount in excess of $5,000 will be necessary for this purpose.

It is my further recommendation that the delegation from the United States consist of a representative of the Department of Labor, a representative of the United States Public Health Service, a representative of this department, and a consular officer who has had extensive experience in immigration matters.

Respectfully submitted.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, January 12, 1928.

FRANK B. KELLOGG.

The PRESIDENT:

The Cuban Government, through its embassy in Washington, extended an invitation on July 18, 1927, to this Government to participate in the Second International Emigration and Immigration. Conference, which will be held at Habana commencing March 31, 1928. On August 20, 1927, the Secretary of State sent a note to the Cuban Embassy requesting that the thanks of the United States Government for the invitation be conveyed to the Cuban Government and that the Cuban Government be informed that this Government would be glad to consider the invitation when it had had an opportunity to examine the agenda of the conference.

After copies of the agenda had been received, communications were. addressed to the Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor on December 17, 1927, apprising them of the receipt of the invitation under discussion and transmitting copies of the agenda with the suggestion that a conference be held between representatives of the Department of State, the Department of Labor, and the United States Public Health Service for the purpose of discussing the question of participation in the conference to be held in Habana.

On December 29 representatives of the three departments met at the State Department and after due deliberation reached the conclusion that it would be advisable for the United States to send a delegation to the Habana conference because of the following considerations: First, the United States appears to be in some degree committed to such participation not only by reason of the fact that it was formally represented in the previous conference on the same subject held in Rome in 1924, but more especially in view of the fact that the chairman of the American delegation at that conference cast his vote in favor of the convening of a second conference, i. e., that to be held at Habana in March. Second, the conference is to be held in a Latin American country, and will be largely attended by delegates from the Latin American nations whose immigration problems are similar to those of this country, as was evidenced by their attitude at the recent meeting of the Interparliamentary Commercial Conference held at Rio de Janeiro in September of last year.

While the opinion of the conferees that the United States should accept the invitation was based chiefly on the considerations set forth in the foregoing paragraph, they did not lose sight of the advantage to this country in having the traditional position of the United States, that immigration is strictly a domestic matter, reaffirmed at this conference. Should delegates be appointed, they will accordingly be instructed to make clear this Government's position on immigration and to take no action inconsistent with the attitude and prerogatives of the Congress of the United States in this connection.

This matter has been submitted to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget who advises that it is not in conflict with the President's financial program.

I believe, therefore, that attendance at this conference will be in the public interest, and have the honor to recommend that, as an act of international courtesy and as a means of reaffirming the historic policy of this country on immigration and of cooperating with American countries with similar immigration problems, the Congress be requested to appropriate funds to cover the expense of sending a delegation to the Second International Emigration and Immigration

Conference. It is not believed an amount in excess of $5,000 will be necessary for this purpose.

It is my further recommendation that the delegation from the United States consist of a representative of the Department of Labor, a representative of the United States Public Health Service, a representative of this department, and a consular officer who has had extensive experience in immigration matters.

Respectfully submitted.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, January 12, 1928.

FRANK B. Kellogg.