(Translation.)
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Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Summary of Paraguayan Immigration Laws and Regulations.
Law of October 6, 1903.
ARTICLE 1 establishes that in respect of this law an immigrant is considered to be "a foreigner able to work, under 50 years of age, who arrives in the country for the first time for the purpose of establishing himself therein." He must prove, in addition to his good conduct, that he is an agriculturist, knows a trade or profession, is an artisan, professor, electrician or engineer in any branch. The proof is established by means of a certificate from the Paraguayan consula or immigration agents in foreign countries issued on the testimony of two responsible neighbours, by certificates from the authorities at the immigrant's place of residence authenticated by the local Paraguayan consul or immigration agent, or by means of legalised deeds or diplomas.
Article 2 authorises the executive to give preferential encouragement to the particular class of immigration that it considers to be best suited to the country, and to stem by various means any current of immigration that is considered undesirable.
Article 3. Immigrants that come to the country at their own expense and that possess as a minimum, if single, 50 gold dollars in cash, or, if bead of a family, 30 gold dollars for each mule adult, are accorded the following privileges:-
1. A free second-class passage from any point on the River Plate or Parana.
2. Disembarkation at the expense of the immigration office, as also that of luggage,
utensils and tools.
3. Maintenance during the following eight days at State expense and free medical attention until recovery in case of illness. After eight days the charge for food and accommodation is 0-40 gold dollars a day for each immigrant above 10 years of age and 0-20 gold dollars under that age, unless such have been engaged directly by the State for national colonies, in which case main- tenance is free until arrival at destination.
4. Free importation of personal belongings, furniture and domestic utensils, seeds, machinery in general, tools, fine stock for breeding purposes, and a sporting weapon for each male adult up to a value to be fixed by the executive.
5. Free transport to any point in the republic so long as it is situated on railway or
river and is easy of access.
6. Free assistance by the immigration office in the way of information and
employment.
Article 4. Persons over 50 years of age, invalids, or those suffering from physical defects are entitled to the benefit of the preceding article so long as they form part of a family containing two qualified immigrants, or have sufficient money to maintain them- selves.
Article 5 grants the same benefits to the wives and young children of immigrants. Article 6. Immigrants introduced by private companies or by members of their family already established in the country may enjoy the benefits mentioned in clauses 1 and 4 of article 3, and the minimum amount of capital referred to in the same article is not an indispensable condition.
Article 7 prohibits immigrants from availing themselves of the facilities provided when their purpose is merely to pass through Paraguay to reach another country.
Articles 8 and 9 establish the procedure to be observed in obtaining tenders for the transport by shipping companies of immigrants and their belongings, and the obligations that such transport involves.
Articles 10 and 11 outline the formalities to be observed in the cases provided for under article 6, viz., the introduction of iminigrants by private companies or individuals.
Articles 12 and 13 state that Paraguayan cousuls are regarded as information and propaganda agents in foreign countries, and that consuls of whatever status, or special agents, should there be any, may issue on their own account orders for river passages for immigrants to the consuls-general at Montevideo and Buenos Aires so long adbere strictly to the provisions of this law.
as they
Article 14. In no case shall the consulates or immigration agencies issue certificates or immigrants' passages in favour of individuals of the yellow and black
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races, of those suffering from infectious diseases, of beggars, vagrants or gipsies, nor in tavour of convicts or persons subject to the action of foreign courts of justice."
Articles 15, 16 and 17 refer to the repatriation of Paraguayans from neighbouring countries and establish the conditions under which they may obtain the same privileges as are granted to immigrants.
Articles 18 to 22 inclusive refer to the organisation of the general office of immigration and colonisation, and article 23 provides that the executive shall regulate this law.
On the 30th September, 1919, the charge for maintenance of immigrants at the immigrants' hotel was fixed at 10 dollars currency a day for each one over 8 years of age and 5 dollars for children of both sexes under that age.
Paragraph 10 of article 4 of Law No. 380 (budget for 1920) authorises the executive to issue 2nd-class passages from the port of Buenos Aires to ports in Paraguay to immigrants proceeding to the agricultural colonies, these passages to be retunded by the interested parties, together with instalments paid for lands granted to them; and decree No. 11167 of the 22nd January, 1920, regulates the foregoing authorisation, the main points being as follows:-
Article 1. To secure the free passage from Buenos Aires to Paraguay every immigrant should be provided with the following documents :—
(a.) A certificate issued by the judicial or police authorities of the country of origin to the effect that he has not been prosecuted for offences against social laws during the five years previous to his arrival, nor for offences meriting punishment of a defamatory nature.
(b.) A certificate from any of the same authorities to the effect that he has not
suffered from mental deficiency nor been a meudicant.
(c) A certificate that proves him to be affected by no contagious disease or organic
defect that incapacitates him for work.
(d.) A certificate with the photograph of the interested party stamped with the seal of the authority that issued the same, or with that of the Paraguayan consulate at the place of departure.
(e) A certificate proving the agricultural or industrial capacity of the immigrant, to be issued on the testimony of two responsible neighbours and authenti cated by the Paraguayan consul in the country of origin, or by duly legalised deed or diploma.
Article 2. The following may not make use of the free passages, viz. blind persons, deaf-mutes, paralytics, those who lack the use of both arms, of the right arm, or of both legs, or who suffer from other ailment or defect that diminishes their capacity for work; idiots, imbeciles, epileptics, those who have practised mendicancy in the country of origin; single women without resources and with children under 10 years of age, persons over 50 years of age who are not heads of families, gipsies or other persons who might presumably become a charge on public charity.
Article 3. The certificates required by the present decree will be issued free of charge by the consular agents of the republic.
Asunción, October 18, 1921.
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