NEW YORK AND CUBA MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY
W
WARD LINE

GENERAL OFFICES:
FOOT OF WALL STREET

NEW YORK March 14, 1930.

FILE No. 84

PASSPORT VISA REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER CUBA

Mr. Langston Hughes,
c/o Alfred A. Knopf,
730 Fifth Avenue,
New York City.

Dear Mr. Hughes:-

I regret very much indeed that I was not able to meet you personally
Wednesday, but was very glad indeed to have the opportunity to talk with you over
the telephone.

I, both personally and as an official of this company, have regretted ex-
ceedingly the embarrassment which you suffered because, practically speaking, of
a condition over which this company had absolutely no control. In the preceding
paragraph I stated that I regretted very much indeed that I did not meet you Wednesday,
for I believe that if you had an opportunity to review our file in its entirety,
you would be convinced that we have done everything possible to secure definite
information from the immigration authorities of Cuba concerning the admissibility of
members of your race. I may be mistaken, but I think that Mr. White is now of that
opinion. I informed him Wednesday that this company has performed service from New
York to Cuba for more than 50 years, during which time we have never refused trans-
portation to members of your race and have always extended all courtesies and taken
necessary steps to protect their interests and feelings while guests on our steamers.
It was very embarrassing for us to be forced, because of the attitude of the
immigration authorities of Cuba, to announce that we could not continue that practice.
You stated during conversation with me that it was very strange that no trouble was
encountered by those who entered from New Orleans, Key West and some by steamer from
New York direct. This was news to me, for, as my file reveals, I have been in
close touch with the situation, relying on course, upon the information secured by
our Passenger Representative in Havana, who was in contact with the Commission of
Immigration once or twice a week in an endeavor to have immigration matters
definitely understood. I personally made a trip to Cuba last October to interview
the Commissioner of Immigration, and he most emphatically stated that negroes, American
citizens or otherwise, would not be allowed in Cuba. I personally withheld dis-
tribution of immigration circulars because of the fact that I did not like to broadcast
such information; in the first, it was discrimination, and secondly, such a
ruling had no legal standing whatsoever; however, when one of our passengers was
deported from Cuba, and other passengers by other lines refused admission, and the
immigration authorities continued to insist that their exclusion was still in

NEW YORK March 14, 1930.

FILE No. 84

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existence, there was only one thing left for us to do, and that was to state
with regret that we could not book members of your race.

As Mr. White informed you over the telephone, we are in receipt of a letter
from Havana, signed by Mr. J.M.Causse, our Passenger Representative, of date
March 6th, stating that he had a long interview with Dr. Sanchez del Portal,
Commissioner of Immigration, and was advised that members of the colored race of
the prominent class, or reputable standing, coming to Cuba as tourists, would be
admitted, but would be excluded the same as members of other races if they attempted
to enter Cuba because of contract to perform labor. Again, however, the Commissioner
has not furnished us this information in writing but I, and Mr. White also, have
every reason to believe this is authentic and will be carried out to the letter.

Mr. White is very kindly co-operating with us in our endeavor to clarify
the situation by addressing a communication to the Secretary of State of Cuba,
asking him to advise all steamship companies performing service to Cuba of this
decision. It certainly is most regretable that no action was taken by the immigration
authorities of Cuba until you and other prominent members of your race were embarrassed.

I take this opportunity to apologize to you, on behalf of the company which
I represent, for any discourteous treatment which you may have received at the hands
of our Mr. Dudley Thomas, General Agent, Havana.

Hoping that we may have the pleasure of serving you at some future date
under more favorable circumstances, I am,

WCC/CAS