The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-06
PASSPORTS OF MODERN DAYS.
Their Difference From Those Used in
Former Periods.

Passports are not required in Europe"
said Mr.. Hunt. Chief Of the Passport
Bureau Of the Department Of State. That
Is TO say. passport is not needed to
secure admission 70 any Of the countries
except Russia and Turkey Should the
tourist intend &c remain at any partieu-
lar place on the Continent for a long time
should he intend 10 take up q temporary
residence or engage in business, for in
stance. then be is called upon to estab-
iish his identity. and this can best be
done by means Of a passport. The pres
ent passport Is not the Old passport OF
international law. That was a SAFE con-
duct 10 a man. with permission t. 20
through a country. given by the ruler Of
that country. II then became a Taper
given by sovereign TO person about TO
enter upon a voyage. requesting the
sovereigns Of the countries 10 be visited
20 permit him 10 enter. The language
used In our passports now is 10 let the
person to whom ii is issued pass freely
and TO give him all lawful aid and pro-
lection
LAS a matter Of fact. the American pass
port has never been issued 70 a foreigner to
travel IL this country. as a passport has
never bean required here except in brief
periods and limited areas during war
times The passports which are being
issued in such large numbers now are Ger
uheates Of American citizenship, and an
evidence Of the person who holds Il to che
right Of American protection. The only
real passports in the old international law
sense. that the Department OF State hss
ever issued were sent to Mr.. Polo, the
Spanish Minister. and Lord SackviIie. the
British Minister They we're addressed 10
officers OF the United States giving slfe
conduct to the bearers. and were merely q
tormality, having no weight at all. because
anybody is free To travel in the United
States so Iorg as he does not violate the
law. Occasionally a foreign minister about
TO go away on leave asks for and receives
from the Department one Of these ssfe con-
ducts, but they are rare and have not num-
bered three in three years
The ordinary passport issued by other
governments is similar 20 that which We
give cur citizens. both in wording and pur-
pose. Some foreign countries. before rec
ogDizing the validity Of a passport require
that wise be affixed, denoting that il has
been examined and is authentic. The wise
in some cases must be attached in the
country where the passport is issued BY
a diplomatic or consular officer of the Gov
ernmert requiring II; sometimes simply ~
such officer anywhere, and then again, ct
times. at the frontier of the country 20
which admission is sought. Should an
American citizen, either native or natural
while abroad. he has the right TO call upon
the nearest American diplomatic or consul
lar officer for t.
1T is safe for an American citizen To
visit any country OF Europe provided he
has not violated the laws in any Of them
In those nations whore military service Is
required of subjects a native emigrating
10 the United States and taking up citf-
zenshiP here is free to return, provided
he has not been summoned TO perform the
service at the time he departed: but no
naturaliZed citizen can return to his
mother country with impunity. II he yio-
lated any OF the laws. deserted from the
army, ETC.. he viii probably be appre-
hended by the parent government upon his
return, and the passport will not protect
him, because man cannot avoid punish
ment for the infringement OF the laws OF
one country by becoming a citizen of an
other Russia. Turkey, and. in a less de-
gree, Italy ard Switzerland. adhere to the
doctrine of perpetual allegiance Switzer-
land and Italy do not commonly assert 1t
against subjects who have become natural
ICED citizens of the United States. The
Department OF State has had prolonged
correspondence protesting against the atti-
tude Of Turkey and Russia, but has been
unable so far to secure the desired con-
cessions.
Our laws. you know. do not extend be-
yond the jurisdiction of this Government
and while we may by statute proclaim the
right of expatriation we cannot enforce
il In either Russia or Turkey. The Car
OF Russia and the Sultan OF Turkey, when
our citizens enter their domains. have to
be consulted concerning this divine right
The tendency Of all modern international
intercourse is In favor of its recognition;
but that will do one little good should he
be arrested il Russia or Turkey and
thrown into jail There he may. it is true.
reflect upon his divine right and also upon
his actual Incarceration. As a matter of
fact. neither Russia nor Turkey carries
its power to an extreme. It frequently
happens that naturalized citizen re-
turning 30 his home in either country is ap-
pretended and thrown into prison. Things
are made uncomfortable for him for
while. and he Is subsequently released with
a warning His experience is a sufficient
lesson to warn others never to return.
and thus the purpose Of the Car ard the
Sultan IS accomplished.