Sir Julian
Pauncefote to Mr. Blaine.
British
Legation,
Washington, November 25,
1891.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith
copies of letters which have been forwarded to me by Her Majesty’s
consul at Boston from certain shipping agents in that city, complaining
of the hardness and injustice to which they are subjected through the
interpretation given there, by port authorities, to the immigration act
of March 3, 1891.
In bringing the matter to your notice I venture to express the hope that
the Secretary of the Treasury will see his way to cause instructions to
be sent to the port authorities at Boston to take charge of passengers
who are not allowed to remain in the country until the ship bringing
them is ready for sea, as I am informed by Mr. Henderson is [Page 256] the practice at New York, and
which would seem to be within the powers of the inspection officers
under section 8 of the act.
I have, etc.,
Warren & Co. to
the British consul.
Liverpool Steamship Office,
125 Milk Street, Boston, November 13, 1891.
Sir: We beg to report to you the hardship
British steamers suffer which arrive here with passengers on board
who are barred from landing under American law.
Our steamer Roman arrived here September 16,
having on board a woman and four children who were forbidden to land
and we were ordered to keep this family in custody while the ship
was in port and return them to the place whence they came. In
pursuance of these orders and in order to comply as far as possible
with their tenor these people were detained on board under watch. On
the 21st idem, being a very warm day, they were allowed rather more
liberty and during dinner time the woman escaped; we made every
effort to find her, hut without success. The matter was reported by
the commissioner of immigration to the collector of the port, and
the vessel was unable to obtain her clearance papers on the 22d
until a deposit of $1,000 and guaranty of liability for a further
amount, if necessary, was made with the district attorney.
Being unable to find the woman we applied to the district attorney
for a warrant to arrest her if she could be found anywhere, but were
told such a course could not be allowed under the law; that the
vessel was guilty of a misdemeanor in allowing the woman to land,
not the woman in landing. Since then the woman has been found but
declines to return, and neither the Government representatives nor
ourselves have the power to make her.
The district attorney informs us he must bring suit against the
steamer to show why a fine should not be imposed, and intends
summoning the woman as a witness.
We maintain that it is strictly contrary to the rules of a British
ship to confine passengers on board while in port; that it is
moreover a very dangerous practice to keep passengers on a steamer
working cargo through open hatches, unless they are confined below,
and in hot weather this is inhuman; that if certain passengers are
forbidden by law to land, they should be taken in charge by the
United States authorities on shore (at the steamer’s expense if
necessary) and returned to the steamer just prior to sailing.
We also maintain that if passengers are to be detained on board and
should escape the steamer’s agents should have authority to arrest
same if they are unwilling to return otherwise.
We put these facts before you and request that notice of them be sent
to Her Majesty’s minister at Washington with such recommendations as
you may see fit to make, and that the proper United States
authorities be communicated with there. We inclose a letter on this
matter signed by several British steamship agents in this city.
Yours, truly,
Warren & Co.
Steamship agents to
British consul.
Boston, November 13,
1891.
Sir: Referring to the act of Congress in
amendment to the act regulating immigration, of March 3, 1891,
whereby certain passengers are not allowed to land, but are to be
detained on shipboard and returned to the port whence the steamer
came, we respectfully request that you communicate with Her
Majesty’s minister, in Washington, to the effect that a British ship
is not a proper place to detain, and if necessary, confine
passengers while in port, but that such passengers should be taken
charge of by the United States authorities while the steamer is in
port.
We are, yours, etc.
Warren & Co.,
Agents Warren Line.
Thayer & Lincoln,
Agents Leyland Line.
E. Adams & Co.,
Agents Beaver Line.
H.
and A. Allen,
Agents Allen
Line.
Alexander Martin,
Agent Cunard
Line.
