§ MR. SUMMERBELLI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state whether a record is kept of all emigrants from Trinidad and the other West India Islands, under permission of the various local governments, to the Panama Canal; and, if so, could he further state whether any undertaking is given by the United States Government for the safe return of such emigrants in case of failure to carry out the work through no fault of the said emigrants.
§ MR. CHURCHILLEmigration from Trinidad to Panama is not controlled by any special Ordinance, and though the form of contract entered into by the emigrants has been approved by the Governor, the Secretary of State is not aware that any special record is kept of persons emigrating to Panama. The approved form of contract contains provision for the repatriation of the emigrant at his desire on the determination of his contract. Emigrants from Jamaica to Panama must obtain a permit from the Colonial authorities, and provision is made by law to enable all emigrants recruited under contract to return to their homes. The laws of most of the other West Indian Colonies contain provisions 61 enabling the Governor to control the recruitment of labour for service outside the Colony, but the Secretary of State is not aware that any special terms have been imposed in the case of recruitment for Panama.