Minister Dudley to the Acting Secretary of State.

No. 1278.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith two copies and a translation of a decree of this Government, dated the 10th instant, providing for the encouragement of immigration to this country by the payment of the passages of immigrants under specified conditions.

As stated by President Pardo in his last message to Congress, the two main obstacles to agricultural development in Peru are the insufficiency of laborers and the scarcity on the coast of water. The problem of the increasing of the water supply has been receiving the attention of the government corps of engineers during the past few years, several Americans having aided therein, especially with a view to developing subterranean water.

I have, etc.,

Irving B. Dudley.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

(From El Comercio, Lima, Peru, August 11, 1906.)

The President of the Republic:

Whereas, it is convenient to lay down rules for the expending of the item set apart for the promotion of immigration in the general budget now in force, in a way best suited to obtaining the object in view:

Decrees—

  • First. The State will provide third-class passages for the natives of Europe and America who may wish to introduce industrial or private enterprises, provided that they fulfill the following conditions: (a) That they are from 16 to 50 years of age, if they are males, and from 10 to 40 if they are females, fulfilling the conditions of morality and health laid down in the rules now in force. (b) That they come to engage in agriculture, in mining, or in other industries, or to devote themselves to these occupations for account of colonization, immigration, or irrigation enterprises.
  • Second. The payment of the passages will be made through the consuls of the Republic in the ports of shipment in view of the orders cabled by the ministry of fomento, to which office must be presented in writing the request of the interested parties for such payment, indicating at the same time the number of immigrants, the agricultural estate or industrial establishment to which they are destined, and declaring themselves obliged to provide lodging, board, and medical attendance for the immigrants from the port of landing to the place of destination.
  • Third. The consuls of the Republic, on receipt of the order from the minister of fomento, shall make the payment of the passages to the steamer companies direct, with previous personal and individual evidence that the immigrants fulfill the conditions set forth in Article I of this decree, and for this purpose they shall give a certificate to each immigrant, which shall be collected by the maritime authorities of the port of landing and afterwards forwarded to the ministry of fomento.
  • Fourth. A general register of immigrants shall be opened in the agricultural section of the ministry of fomento, in accordance with the models and instructions obtained from that department.
  • Fifth. The outlay incurred by the compliance with this decree shall be charged to item No. 13 of the extraordinary expenses of the department of fomento, in the general budget now in force.


(Signed)
Jose Pardo.

(Signed)
Delfin Vidalón.