C.O.
4996
(COPY) M. 3890
REC?
HOME OFFICE,
RFGE 12 FEB 13
139,147/49.
WHITEHALL.
55
1st February, 1913..
Sir,
I am directed by the Secretary of State to refer to your letter of the 24th January (M. 1805) on the subject of the recent transmission to Liverpool of four alien distressed seamen by the S.S. "Telemachus" and to say that the facts of the case are as follows :-
Any such distressed seamen are alien steerage passengers within the meaning of the Aliens Act and, as such, go towards the number of such passengers which constitutes the ship which brings them to the United Kingdom, an immigrant ship subject to inspection under the Act. In accordance with the arrangement made between the Board of Trade and the Home Office in March, 1906, these distressed seamen are, on inspection, given leave
to land.
In the case under discussion the 3.S. "Telemachus" was an immigrant ship because, owing to circumstances into which it is not necessary to enter here, there is an Order of the Secretary of State in force which constitutes ships belonging to the Ocean Steamship Company immigrant ships if they bring more than two alien steerage passengers. The distressed seamen ought therefore to have been submitted to the Immigration Officer
for inspection; but they were not so submitted and were
landed
The Secretary,
Marine Department,
Board of Trade,
7, Whitehall Gardens,
S.W.