Mr. Adee to Mr. Hale.
Washington, August 19, 1903.
Sir: Under date of the 15th instant the Secretary of Commerce and Labor writes that it is his Department’s desire, in its efforts to enforce the act of March 3, last, “to regulate the immigration of aliens into the United States,” to prevent by every lawful means the immigration into this country of persons afflicted with loathsome or dangerous contagious diseases. This work would be greatly facilitated and the hardship on the steamship lines would be decreased if permission were given, by the principal countries from which emigrants leave for the United States, to this Government to station at the ports of embarkation officers of the United States Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service to make a medical inspection of all persons intending to emigrate to the United States.
Under these circumstances you may make inquiry of the Government to which you are accredited whether it has any objection to such a course, and the Department would be glad if you would report as soon as possible the answer received by you.
I am, sir, etc.,
Acting Secretary.