Chargé Wilson to the Secretary of State.
Athens , July 24, 1906 .
Sir: Referring to Mr. Jackson’s dispatch No. 413, of the 2d instant, I have the honor to report that the commission appointed to study the question of emigration made a report to the Greek Chamber of Deputies, in which it stated that according to the official figures of the United States Government, Greece having no statistics, the emigration of Greeks to the United States is increasing in enormous proportions compared to that of other countries. Greece is, however, by no means being depopulated, as the regions which furnish the largest number of emigrants is also the most prolific part of the country. Furthermore, the Greeks do not generally emigrate in the usual sense of the word, but after a longer or shorter absence return to settle in Greece. They remain in constant communication with their families at home, as is shown by the amount of money sent back, which increases every year. In 1906 the money orders alone reached the sum of 6,000,000 francs. The commission therefore decides that the State ought to protect such an important source of wealth, and recommends a strict supervision of the agents of emigration companies, who should be obliged to have a special authorization. It also recommends the establishment of an office for the sanitary inspection, and that measures should be taken to decide upon the foreign ports where emigrants should embark for America.
I have, etc.,