MIGRATION OVER LAND FRONTIERS The migration which has been noted over land frontiers (Con tinental migration) has long been a feature of the movement of population in all parts of the world. In Europe it is mainly of a seasonal and temporary character as opposed to overseas migra tion, which is primarily a movement for permanent settlement.
France for many years has been dependent on foreign labour. In 1911 there were 1,159,835 foreigners in France, mostly Italians, and agricultural labour was regularly recruited abroad by official organizations. Germany also depended, after its industrial expan sion began, on the seasonal migration of labourers from Poland, to the number of 250,000 a year for the harvest season alone.
Since 1918 Continental migration has increased in importance, not only on account of the larger numbers involved but on ac count of the political difficulties to which the movement has given rise. The work of reconstruction in France and Belgium and the restoration of the industries of those countries after the World War could only be effected by the aid of large numbers of labour ers from other European countries. Continental migration in Eu rope has been further stimulated by testrictions on overseas emi gration, for the demand for labour in France, Belgium and Luxemburg, supplied an outlet for the surplus population of Eu rope denied admission to the United States.
Before 1914 Germany was the principal employer of foreign labour (almost entirely agricultural) but since 1918 Germany has required only a fraction of its pre-war supply, has restricted the entry of foreign workers, and is seeking outlets for her own peo ple. France, on the other hand, has been absorbing a largely increased, although fluctuating, volume of foreign labour. In 1923 and 1924 the number rose to over 250,000 a year, but has since declined considerably. The great majority of the immigrants into France were Italians.
The influx of foreign workers into the various countries of Europe has raised very difficult economic and social problems— questions of hygiene, national security, the legal and social posi tion of the migrants, their status under the social insurance sys tems of the country of immigration. With a view to smoothing over these difficulties a large number of international arrangements have been concluded. Treaties or agreements have been entered into by France with Poland, Italy, Czecho-Slovakia, Belgium and Austria; by Italy with France, Luxemburg, the Serb-Croat-Slovene Kingdom and Albania; and by the Argentine Republic with Aus tria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Spain, etc.
(i.) The practical cessation of immigration from Europe during the World War and the increasing demand for labour led to a remarkable development in the negro problem in the United States. Large numbers of negroes from the southern States mi grated to the industrial centres of the North attracted by the high wages and the conditions of town life. The restrictions placed upon immigration from Europe after the war further encouraged this movement, for the supply of unskilled labour in the United States has been drawn in the past largely from new immigrants.
(ii.) The reduction of oversea immigration has also been ac companied by increased immigration from Canada, which from the point of view of both countries is open to objection. To Can ada it means that its immigration from Europe is being largely off-set by the movement across the border. During the three years 1925-7 the total immigration into Canada from overseas amounted to 340,00o. During the same period it is estimated that 282,000 Canadians crossed into the United States. This emigration was only partially counter-balanced by the return of 144,000 Cana dians temporarily resident in the United States.
On the other hand, from the point of view of the United States, it means that the restrictions placed upon immigration from Eu rope are being to a large extent rendered ineffective, for although persons born in Europe can only enter Canada on the quota of their respective countries of birth, the difficulty of controlling the movement across the border is so great that illegal immigration ("the bootlegging of aliens") is conducted on a considerable scale. More effective control appears to be essential if the United States immigration policy is to be maintained.
The shortage of labour in the southern States caused by the movement of negroes to the North and by the restrictions on immigration from Europe was met by a considerable immigration of Mexicans across the border.
The net addition made to the Mexican population of the United States in 1927 was 69,685, which was 15,237 more than in 1926, and 24,667 more than in 1925. It is probable that the quota law will have to be extended to Mexico and other countries on the American continent and further steps taken to check illegal immigration.