No. 602.
Mr. Fish
to Mr. Evarts.
Berne, May 25, 1880. (Received June 7.)
Sir: This government has always abstained from participation in colonization or emigration schemes, and while it will soon legislate upon the subject of emigration agencies, it is not the policy of the Federal Council to advocate any definite scheme of colonization, nor will it favor emigration to any particular country. Its action will be confined in this respect to recommending the enactment of a law to enable the supervision and regulation of the methods by which the emigration is carried on and to protect the emigrants, so far as is possible, while on their journey. In my No. 263 I transmitted to you a copy of the law which they propose.
The “Grütliverein,” having at its head the philanthropist, Dr. Wilhelm Joos, have, for a long time, advocated the participation of the government in establishing a colony in America, and that for this purpose the Confederation, or the cantons, or even the communes, should acquire tracts of land for the establishing of a Swiss colony on a large scale.
In furtherance of their views the “Grütliverein” been actively circulating for signature a declaration on this subject, of which I inclose a copy and translation.* The French text is headed, “Émigration et colonization,” while the German is more explicit, “Kolonisatorische auswanderung,” or colonizing emigration.
There are six paragraphs setting forth the evils which prompt them to make this declaration, which are followed by as many (numbered from 7 to 12 inclusive) setting forth their views of the advantages to be gained by the adoption of their proposals, which are followed by a recapitulation of their wishes, which are as follows:
We hereby declare that we desire:
- a.
- That by means of purchase or donation acquisition should be made of one or of several tracts of land fit for colonization in the name of the Swiss Confederation, or in the name of the cantons and of the communes, or even in the name of corporations or societies acting in concert with the communes.
- b.
- That the great proprietors of real estate in America (States, railway companies, and others) should be invited to make known to the address of the central committee of the “Grütliverein” the conditions upon which they would be willing to cede said lands.
- c.
- That steps should be taken in order that the authorities or corporations above mentioned may examine in time the propositions which may be made to them, and accept those which may appear suitable.
Holding these views it is not surprising that the law proposed by the Federal Council should meet with opposition from the “Grütliverein,” [Page 957] inasmuch as it carefully abstains from encouraging the establishment of a Swiss colony.
The Bund of this morning announces that the “Grütliverein” have presented a petition to the Federal Assembly similar to the tenor of their declaration, and that it is signed by 17,877 persons. The article also says that the “Grütliverein” do not find the proposed law respecting emigration agencies sufficient for the protection of the emigrants, and that they demand the establishment of colonies; “that the Swiss who seeks a new home by means of emigration should not be left to his fate.”
The declaration of the petitioners is vague and indefinite as to the extent of the protection they wish accorded to their emigrants, or rather to the proposed colony; but a perusal of that document leaves on my mind the impression that its authors believe it to be possible to establish on our soil and within our jurisdiction a colony of Swiss to be in a measure subject to Swiss legislation.
I inclose herewith a table concerning the emigration of Swiss to countries beyond the sea for 1878, compared with the period from 1868 to 1877. Unfortunately these tables, prepared from the cantonal records, do not include many Swiss who have emigrated to the United States after residing in other countries, nor do they include those who have emigrated without the knowledge of the cantonal or local authorities. This will account for the difference in the number of Swiss going to the United States, and the number which our records show to have arrived there. According to the Swiss tables, the total emigration for 1878 was 2,608, of whom 1,602 went to North America, that is 61 per cent. of the whole number. The total increase compared with the emigration (luring 1877, is 569, or 34 per cent.
The emigration for 1880 will no doubt greatly exceed that of last year. I base this opinion on the fact that the agents of several land companies have been actively at work in offering inducements to emigrants, and in one case in West Virginia a committee of experts from Berne have visited their lands, and are, I am told, favorably impressed with the examination; and among those instrumental in selecting these experts was a very prominent member of the cantonal government of Berne. Should my information as to the result of the examination by the experts be correct, it will be followed by a considerable emigration from this canton, perhaps under a subsidy from the canton or the respective communes from which the emigrants may go.
I have the honor, &c.,
- Omitted from the present publication.↩