CONTROL OF IMMIGRATION 81 



which may permit the use of scientific knowledge embodied in this study. 

 Thus, I deem it necessary to study what may be termed the application to 

 eugenics of the biology of immigration. 



Civilization at present may be said to have eliminated the barriers that 

 formerly prevented the migration of masses. Today any group of men 

 may move to almost any place on earth. But the natural physical barriers 

 of other times have been replaced by political ones. Access to nearly all 

 nations is regulated by special legislation and it may be said that our main 

 object should be to influence legislation so that it may coincide as far as 

 possible with the biological requirements of the people who inhabit the 

 country, and with a common international plan for the well-being of 

 humanity. 



The right of a nation to forbid immigration beyond the point which 

 could be termed a sanitary defense has been challenged without realiz- 

 ing that from the standpoint of biology it may be said that a cacogenic 

 factor has a more serious or prejudicial effect than has any infectious germ. 

 Against the latter an immunity can be established which, up to the present, 

 we do not possess against the former. 



It is my belief, and this opinion has been accepted by the First Pan- 

 American Conference on Eugenics and Homiculture, that free immigration 

 should be established for individuals biologically classified as healthy, 

 physically and mentally, somatically as well as germinally, but that each 

 nation should be granted the right to make a complete biological investiga- 

 tion of all individuals desiring to reside within their respective territories, 

 and to have the right of accepting or refusing these individuals after con- 

 sidering the racial characteristics and environments of both natives and 

 aliens. 1 



1 1 am, hereby, submitting the four basic principles with reference to immigration 

 sanctioned by the First Pan American Conference on Eugenics and Homiculture, in case 

 it may be deemed advisable for the Third International Congress on Eugenics to recom- 

 mend them to other countries. 



(Six) 1. "Individuals classified as biologically healthy, will possess free migration 

 with the exception of those whom the regulations of each government in the exercise of its 

 sovereignty, may debar. 



(Seven) 2. Any nation has the right to investigate the complete biological condition 

 of individuals, somatic and germinal, desiring to reside in its territory, or to bar or limit 

 to the citizens of those nations that do not allow said investigation, as well as those in- 

 dividuals who, as the result of the investigation, may prove capable of transmitting 

 undesirable conditions. 



(Eight) 3. To the nations of America is recommended the enactment of laws that 

 may defend them from entry into their territory of individuals classified as biologically 

 unhealthy somatically; or who may be considered as biologically undesirable. 



