File No. 819.55/69.
Consul General Snyder to the Secretary of State.
Panama, April 10, 1915.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that under recent legislation, immigrants coming third class or as deck passengers to Panama [Page 1272] are required to deposit $30 with the Government pending presentation of proof that they have obtained permanent work.
This law was passed, it is claimed, to avoid a possible future menace as a result of the bad financial condition of the country and the number of West Indians and others who have arrived lately and failed to obtain work owing to the completion of the Canal.
I have [etc.]