The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1917-04-27
REFUGEE OkHf At coLuM- &
Bus cOsTlS'l y. $. 500 Anll

Inc Jnlnfoc ana tne lnited nIntrt
governments are still maintaining
the refugee camp at Columbus Of
Chinese aliens brought out OF Mex
leo Feb. 5 with pershinR's eNpedi-
tion. II IA costing the former
government something over 5000
per day, the cost Of water and
wood, and the latter about 500 a
day. the cost Of general provisions.
Kimpson Yu. secretary of the
Chinese consulate In the United
States. who arrived In ~ paso Sun
day night, states. however. that in
about two weeks. he expects to have
all the refugees disposed Of There
are now ls7 In the camp, only about
thirty having departed, going, most
OF them, 10 China.
For the FIRST time In history, says
Mr.. w. the American government
aud the Chinese minister. Dr. We'll
lington w. X. hoo. have been able
IN reach an agreement whereby
Chinese In the prcdic0mcnt Of those
al Columbus might be admitted. the
American government having agreed
to allow into this country all those
who are OF the merchant class
They will have IN show that they
we're IN business In Mexico and will
have 10 secure certain guarantees
through friends or relatives IN the
United States. There are q candi-
dates for admission under this
agreement, said Mr.. Yu. aud they
constitute the mass of those mrr-
chants with whom pcrshing's men
traded on so friendly a basis while
AT Colonia Dublan and ~ valle.
II was originally planned 10 send
the mass Of refugees back into MeN-
leo Via McKicali. but the governor
Of that state demanded ton heavy an
immigrant tax. II seems the Chit
nese merchants Of that city had
formed a company To bring into
Mexico. via that point, about $500
Chinese labors from China, agree
ing 10 pay sioo each as a tax. Mr..
Yu heard about this agreement and
offered b. nay the same amount prr
man II the refugees at Columbus
were allowed 10 enter. The MeNi-
can governor declined Ia accept the
offer and demanded more money,
whcreupon Mr.. Yu succeeded Ia hav-
ing the government Of China refuse
permission for the $500 agreed on
10 leave. This meant a loss Of
s250.0O0 revenue 10 the Mexican
official. Since then the entrance tax
has been lowered TO about $50 or
si0, and about 100 Of the refugees
at Columbus will enter Mexico under
the new Arrangement.
A unique agreement is being rea-
ehed as To the remaining 800, or
Whereabouts, at the camp. a plan
is being formulated whereby the
refugees left, all laborers, will be
taken over by the military authori-
ties as interned paid laborers. 1T
must be distinctly understood said
Mr.. Yu in discussing this plan. that
the Chinese will not compete With
regular American labor. but will be
held IN the employ of the military
for a certain limited period. or until
matters ~ shape themselves That
they can return TO Mexico, or 10
China"
The Chinese consulate rs also
looking after the welfare Ia certain
extent Of about six ur seven hun
dred Of their countrymen who have
come 10 JuarcE for refuge from the
interior Of Mexico. Considerable
provisions have been sent 10 them
Il desire tO state" said Mr.. lu,
that everywhere find the Am"ri-
ran officials willing In every way Ia
co-opersie with me IN. NY endeavor
to dispose Of the refugees. You
must remember that II Is cosiinR
your government considerable eX-
pense. as well as ours, 10 keep u1
the camp, and We appreciate lhciI
efforts IN this matter. II Pas'
Times.