Evening star., 1922-08-22
DAVIS ALARMED.
+ BY ALIEN INFLUX
Urges Cuban Cooperation
to Prevent Smuggling
of Chinese.
FORMER EFFORTS FUTILE
Letter to Secretary Hughes Says
U. S. Is Determined Goal of
Undesirables.
FORMER EFFORTS FUTILE

|. Illegal immigration, particularly
Chinese from Cuba, constitutes one of
the most serious problems before the
Labor Department, Secretary Of Labor
Davis declared yesterday. in COM
menting on efforts being made to Sc
cure closer cooperation between the
Cuban government and tho United
States, according to the Associated
Press. Mr.. Davis was represented as
being hopeful that negotiations be-
tween the State Department and
Cuba would tend to remove some OF
the obstacles confronted by tho tmmi-
grafton authorities and the Labor De-
partment in dealing with smuggling
operations.
It developed yesterday that nego-
tiations on the subject began in Oc-
tober last. when Secretary Hughes
asked the Cuban legation here to call
certain features OF the situation to
the attention Of officials in Havana.
Since then the legation has sent sew
eral other inquiries to its home gov
ernment, but has received no formal
reply to the American representa-
tions.
For Cuba Restrietions.
The latest phase of the problem is
understood to have resulted. from a
letter written to Secretary. Hughes
by Secretary Davis on August 3,
stating that the Labor Department
advisable to present this matter
(Smuggling Of Chinese from Cuba
into the United States) for the con-
sideration of your department.. with
the request that II you approve of
that course the American minister at
oth To
tives Of this government. make ap-
propriate representations to the gov
ernment of Cuba with the object in
view Of ascertaining II restrictions Of
a character which will serve to ma
terially check the movement to that
may not be imposed under the laws
of that country"
Mr. Davis also suggested that the
Cuban government may be able to
devise some plan whereby the depart
ure from ports OF Cuba OF craft en-
gagged in the smuggling Of alient to
our coast and who are or may not be
eligible for admission. may be ma
terially checked" He said his depart
ment was very gravely concerned
over the situation which now prevails
on our southern Atlantic and gulf
coasts growing out of the smuggling
over from Cuba of aliens In large
numbers" and explained that "it
seems to be the generally accepted
view of persons in touch with the
present Chinese population of Cuba
Except. of course. those who are en-
gagged in business there) have the one
thought uppermost in mind OF gain
ing entry to the United States. which
entry must necessarily be accom-
plished by unlawful means"
Extensively InvestiGated.
Secretary Davis declared the Labor
Department recently had rather
smuggling matters on the Florida
coast and its Investigators spent some
time in Cuba looking into the situa-
ton there" According to tho best in
formation available. the Secretary
said. there are now in Cuba $4,000
whom are without employment and
apparently without immediate pros
pect of obtaining employment"
Calling attention to the movement
across the United States from the
Pacific coast Of large numbers Of Chi
explained to Secretary Hughes that
while the department could quite
properly, in view of their apparent
lack Of good faith in the matter, pro-
hibit the further transit across United
States territory of Chinese aliens des-
tined for Cuba. the futility Of so do
ing Is apparent when it is considered
that other routings from China to
Cuba are alreday being utilized. per-
haps to a greater extent than are the
routes which carry them through the
United States"
If the movement Of Chinese laborers
to Cuba could in some manner be
checked. the Secretary asserted, "the
problem Of this government in coping
with the smuggling situation would
be relieved. although doubtless. q
large percentage will eventually seek
to gain unlawful entry to this coun-
try, and in all probability many of
them will succeed in gaining entry.
owing to the lack of proper machinery
on this side with which to Illustrate
their endeavors."