The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-25

passports have been fraudulenty OBJ
tained and used by certain German sub
jects.
The Department Of Justice has recently
apprehended at least four persons OF
German nationality who. It Is alleged.
obtained American passports under pre-
tence of being American citizens and for
/ the purpose OF returning to Germany
without molestation by her enemies dur
ing the voyage. There are indications
that a systematic plan had been devised
to obtain American passports through
fraud for the purpose of securing safe
passage for German officers and reservists
desiring to return to Germany.
Such fraudulent use OF passports by
Germans themselves can have no other
effect than to cast suspicion upon Ameri-
can passports In general. New rcgula-
! tons, however, requiring among other
things the attaching of a photograph Of
the bearer TO his passport, under the seal
| OF the Department or State. and the
| vigilance Of the Department OF Justice
will doubtless prevent further misuse or
American passports
u3D Change Of policy in regard TO loans
TO belligerents.
War loans IN this country were dis
| approved because inconsistent with tho
/ spirit OF neutrality. There Ia a clearly
defined difference between a war loan
and the purchase OF arms and ammuni-
ton. The policy OF dsapprovins of war
loans affects all Governments alike. 70
that the disapprovsl s not AN unneutral
act. The case Is entirely different In the
matter OF arms and ammunition because
prohibition Of export not only might mt
but In this case would not operate equally
upon the nations at war.
Then too the reason given for the dis
approval OF war loans is supported by
other considerations which are absent
IN the case presented by tho sale OF arms
and ammunition. Tho taking Of money
gu; Of the United States during such a
war as this might seriously embarrass
the Government in case IL needed TO Dor
row money. and Il might also seriously
impair this nations ability 20 assist the
neutral nations which. though not par
Elephants In the war. are compelled to
bear heavy burden on account OF the
war. and again "a war loan If offered
for popular subscription in the United
states would be taken up chiefly by those
who are In sympathy with the belligerent
seeking the loan.
The resul: would be that great numbers
OF the American Deople might become
more earnest partisans, having material
interest in the success OF the helligorent
whose bonds they hold These purchases
would not he confined TO few. but
would spread generally throughout the
country. so that the people would he
divided into groups OF partsans which
would result in intense bitterness and
might cause an undesirable II not n
serious situation.
on the other hand. contracts for and
sales of contraband are mere matters OF
trade. The manufacturer, unless pc
cullarly sentimental. would sell to one
, beligerent ps readily as he would to
another. No general spirit of partisan
ship Ia aroused. no sympathios excited.
The whole transaction IS merely matter
I OF business.
This Government has not been advised
that any general loans have been made by
foreign governments IN this country since
the President expressed his wish that
made