The Acting Secretary of State to the Italian Ambassador.

No. 289.]

Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 21st ultimo, in which you submit certain questions, answers to which you requested from the Department of Commerce and Labor.

I have the honor to say in reply that the Secretary of that Department states that it is the invariable rule of his Department to decline to render decisions under ‘the immigration laws until questions for determination have been raised in cases actually occurring: Mr. Metcalf regrets, therefore, that replies could not consistently be made to the hypothetical questions contained in your memorandum.

Accept, etc.,

Herbert H. D. Peirce.