Russian Refugees Landing Today

Russian Refugees Landing Today Pose A Problem ... City And Government Officials Wonder What To Do With Them ... Each Must Have Cash ...  Local Officials Declare That those Coming Are Guests Of The Nation.

San Francisco Chronicle
Chronicle Shipping News And Travel
Sunday, July 1, 1923

Just what is to be done with 526 Russian refugees due in San Francisco today on the US Army transport Merritt is a problem facing Immigration Commissioner John D. Nagle.  The only instructions he has received from Washington DC are to examine and admit them the same as other immigrants.  

If they can pass the tests they may stay, if not they may be ported.  Where is not exactly known, for they have no homes to be returned to.  They were driven out of Siberia some months ago by the present government because they were aristocrats of the old regime.  At every port they entered the authorities refused to admit them.  Rejected everywhere in Asia the refugee fleet was almost shipwrecked off the Philippines, where the United States Government took pity on them and allowed the Russians to land, and is now bringing them to San Francisco at federal government expense.

Must Have Money

One of the provisions of immigration law is that immigrants must either have money or have friends or relatives in America who will guarantee the new arrivals will not become public charges.  The refugees are penniless and only a few of them have friends in America.  A small number are tradesmen and might make a living here, but it is said the majority are aristocrats who have never done a day's work and never will.  They refused to work on the transport radio messages stated.

As there are not not sufficient accommodations at Angel Island, the refugees will not be taken there for examination, rather the tests will be conducted on board the ship as rapidly as possible.  To avoid delay, the work will be started as soon as the Merritt docks at noon today.

Must be Examined

"We can't tell what we will do with the refugees until after they have been examined," said Commissioner Nagle yesterday.  "Each case will have to taken up separately."

Municipal authorities and the San Francisco Red Cross have informed headquarters in Washington DC that the city should not be called upon to look after the refugees alone, the Russians being "guests" of the Nation and not of the city.

The Russian Relief Society yesterday agreed to take temporary care of all refugees who have no friends or relatives in the United States.  All of them who are not released at once to their friends or relatives will be taken to the army barracks at Fort McDowell until their cases can be disposed of.