File No. 151.07/11.
The Secretary of State to the American Vice Consul at Nogales.
Washington, July 3, 1913.
Sir: The Department acknowledges the receipt of your despatch No. 244, of June 19th,1 stating that a large number of Chinese in the vicinity of Cananea have appealed to the American Consular Agent at that place for permission to go with their wives and families across the international boundary to Naco, Arizona, should a situation arise at Cananea endangering their lives, and setting forth the fact that conditions now obtaining in northern Sonora are unfavorable to them.
In reply you are informed that heretofore the United States immigration officials along the Mexican border have permitted Chinese to seek refuge in United States territory when their lives have been actually endangered on the Mexican side of the line. They will doubtless in future accord the same permission whenever it becomes necessary to do so.
You should, however, when the case arises, in order that the Department of Labor, which is now charged with the enforcement of the immigration laws and regulations, may have all necessary information in its possession, transmit to this Department by telegraph full particulars regarding the number of Chinese men, women and children, their occupations in Mexico, and the exact place in Arizona in which they seek refuge, so that the immigration officials along the border may be appropriately instructed by the Department of Labor.
I am [etc.]
- Not printed.↩