150.01 Commuters/198
The Canadian Minister (Massey) to the Secretary of State
Sir: I have the honour to refer to your note of May 28th. 1927 and to my reply thereto of June 8th, regarding the operation of General [Page 509] Order Number 86 of the Department of Labor of the United States, and also to the numerous conversations which have taken place between members of your Department and this Legation on this subject. In the course of your note you were kind enough to employ the following language:
“Before the expiration of the time limit specified in Order Number 86, within which aliens of this class must present quota visas, it will probably be found that all who have hitherto held border-crossing permits issued to them by the Department of Labor since the quota system became effective, will not, by reason of the numerical restrictions of the quota law, be able to receive immigration visas. Should this prove to be the case, I shall be glad at once to request the Secretary of Labor to allow further time in which these people may gain a status in conformity with the law and the Secretary has already assured me that any such request will receive the most sympathetic consideration possible.”
The time limit of December 1st. which was set in this Order is now only a few days away. It has become apparent that a considerable number of Canadian citizens, who have been freely permitted to cross the border daily to employment under permits issued to them by the Department of Labor, are unable to comply with the terms of the Order because they were born abroad, and cannot secure immigration visas chargeable to the quotas of their countries of birth by December 1st. I understand that there are registered at the various United States Consulates at border points, the names of some three thousand individuals who have been in the habit of crossing the border to employment, and who have applied without success for the issue of quota immigration visas. These three thousand individuals are therefore in the most imminent danger of being deprived of their means of livelihood.
I therefore venture to suggest that the time has come when the assurances made in the second of the sentences which are quoted above from your note, should be put into effect. I need not emphasize the desirability of reaching a rapid decision, nor the difficulties which will be incurred at the points principally affected, if no relief is afforded before December 1st. The view of His Majesty’s Government in Canada, as expressed to you in my note of June 8th, remains unchanged. It sincerely hopes that you may find it possible to inform me immediately that the effects of the Order have been so modified as to permit at least those who have applied for immigration visas without being able to secure them, to continue to cross the border without difficulty.
You will doubtless note that I am now only requesting relief for those who have taken all steps in their power to comply with the terms of the Order. In your note of May 28th. you stated that the compulsory [Page 510] relinquishment by such persons of their employment in the United States, which they may have enjoyed for a number of years, would constitute a hardship which you sincerely regretted. I have every confidence that you will take all steps to avoid the infliction of this hardship, and to arrive at an equitable solution of this problem.
I have [etc.]