File No. 763.72115/3283
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of Labor ( Wilson)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of March 42 enclosing a copy of a memorandum of February 26 by the Commissioner General of Immigration regarding the question as to whether or not it would be proper to compel alien enemies who are civil interns in the custody of your Department to work at useful occupations during the time that they are detained pending the outcome of the war.
In reply I have the honor to advise you that this Department sent you as enclosures to its letter of March 14, 1918,2 replies from the American Embassies at London, Paris, and Rome with respect to the practice of Great Britain, France, and Italy regarding forced labor of civilian interns. It will be observed from these reports that it is the practice of all of these countries not to compel such alien enemies to work, but that they are allowed to work voluntarily under certain conditions as to compensation and otherwise. I am of the opinion [Page 192] that it would be fair and equitable on the part of the United States and subject to no criticism or retaliation on the part of the Central Powers if the practice followed by the Allies were followed in the United States, for the present at least; that is, to offer the civilian alien enemies held by your Department opportunity for voluntary labor under reasonable conditions of service and compensation. This Department does not attempt to pass upon the control to be exercised over such enemies during service, nor the legality of exercising such control.
I have [etc.]