The Sentinel=record., 1915-01-30
FOREIGN OFFICE
IS REORGANIzED
rOHMeRlY 1T WORKED ONLY Ac.
CoRDING TO GEOGRAPHICAL
LOCATIONS AND LINES.
since the War it Has Been Reoroan.
'zed Under Separate Subjects to
Meet the Changed Demands.

London, Jan. 29.-The British for.
eish otfice, which is in CORRESPOND.
ehce with the department of state in
me United States CONCERNING the
| ealment of neutral shipping. is the
most interesting departmental head
quarters of the government outsida
pHe war office and the admiralty
Previous to the declaration of war
tne foreign office had its work divid.
co according to geographical lines
Out with the war so many special
questions arose that the working force
was completely reorganized with sDe-
claI subjects-contrab band, passports
citizenship ana treaties.
Inc unusual conditions still swami
some OF these departments with work
but gradually the business is being
systematized and the under secre-
tarles expect that delays. which have
Deen a cause OF much irritation. will
be avoided, In the contraband de-
partment it is believed many times
the amount Of business that anv 9th
or government was ever called upon
to do in this line is being handled.
Sir Edward Grey has converted one
of the big waiting rooms at the for.
eign office into quarters for this de.
partmeat and scores of special clerks
and other employees have been desig
mated for duty there. The co-ordina.
ton of the foreign office and the ad.
miralty in disposing of contraband
cases has frequently been hindored
by red tape But steps have been
taken to eliminate this and from now
On tie foreign office promises a
speedier handling of such cases.
Francis Dyke Acland ranking un.
der secretary of the foreign office |
is often on duty from ten in the morn
ing until midnight. Telegraphers and |
code men working in eight hour re
lays are on duty throughout the - |
hours and it is not unusual for the for. |
eign office to have $50 messages every
eight hours Many of these are long |
and their translation from cade de-
mands time and hard work
When It is taken into consideration |
that Kirkwal, in the Orkney Islands, |
and practically every port in the |
south and west of England are filled |
with ships held for investigation some |
idea can be formed of the messages
which must be exchanged daily con-
corning suspected contra band held in |
the English Isles alone. AS the navy |
is equally active in the waters near
all the colonies and the French navy
IS guarding Mediterranean trade
against contraband destined for the
elemies OF the allies. messages from
all parts Of the world concerning ship
ping problems monopolize the cables
and indicate the responsibilities en-
tailed
The United States, Sweden, Nor
way. Denmark, Holland and Italy
have been especially affected by the
efforts of the allies to prevent con-
traband from reaching Germany and |
representatives Of all these
present grievances in a sin
gle day South American diplomat
lists and the representatives of other
neutrals less affected by the rigorous
policy Of the admiralty are also fire.
quent callers upon Sir Edward Grey |
and his chief assistants
The suggestion in a published dis |
patch from any section Of the world |
that some country has permitted an |
act which might be regarded as a vo- |
lation of neutrality instantly inspires
a visit to the foreign office from the
representative OF the power mention
ed. OF the European neutrals, the |
Netherlands minister Mr.. Van SWIM
deren. for years the Dutch repre- |
sentative in Washington, has been
most persistent in keeping the posi- |
ton of his government before the Tor
eign office. AS the neutral diplomat |
list entrusted VITA The affairs or bel |
heere:.t nations Mr. Page, the Amer |
lean ambassador. Aas occasion TO
make many visits to Sir Edward
Grey.
Previous to the war English sub
iects like Americans, had little use
for passports aad seldom obtained
them. Under changed conditions
however. the demand for passports
has become overpowering and the
foreign office, Notwithstanding the
creation of a special passport depart
ment and the employment OF a great
" increased clerical force is unable
to supply a passport without a two