The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-01-31
contraband, Passports and
Treaties Make Foreign Of
flee Place of Activity.
tcorrespondence q Assoosated PFess,.

Correspondence OF Assoosate4 Pfess).
LONDON, Jan. 80. Tue British for
eign ONCE. which Is IN correspond
ence with the department Of state IN
the United States concerning the treat
ment OF neutral ships: = the most In
teresting departmental headquarters
OF the government outside the war
office and the admiralty.
Previous to the declaration Of war,
the foreign Office had It's work divided
according to geographical lines, but
with the war so many special ques-
lions arose that the working force
was completely reorganized with spec
'ial subjects contrabahd, passports,
citizenship and treaties.
The unusual condi tions istill swamp
some of these departments with work,
but gradually the business Is being
systenatized and the under secretar-
les expect that delays, which have
been cause OF much irritation, will
be avoided In the contraband depart
ment It IS believed many times the
amount OF business that any other
government was ever called upon to
do in this line Is being handled.
Sir Edward Grey has converted ono
OF the big waiting rooms at the for
eign Office into quarters for this de-
partnent and scores Of special clerks
and other employees have been des-
ignated for duty there, The co-ordin-
alton of the foreign office and the adj
mtralty In sdisposing Of eontrahand
cases has frequently been hindered by
red tape. But steps have been taken
to elimtnpte this and from now on
the foreign ONCE promises . speedier
handling Of such cases.
Francis Dyke Acland, ranking I'M
der secretary Of the foreign ONCE, is
often ON duty from ten In the morning
until midnight. Photographers and
code men working in eight hour re-
lays are on duty throughout the TWEEN
ty-four hours and 1t is not unusual
for the foreign office to have $50 mes
sages every eight hours. Many OF
these are long and their translation
from code demands time and hard
work. .1t.-s
When It is taken into consideration
that Kirkwall, 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 contraband held In
the English isle clone 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
enemies Of the allies. messages from
all parts OF the world concerning the
shipping problems monopolize the
cables and indicate the responsibilities
entailed.. W.
The United States, Sweden, Norway,
Denmark. Holland and Italy have been
especially affected by the efforts Of
the allies to prevent ceptraband from
reaching Germany and sometimes rep.
resentatives OF all these countries pre-
sent grievances In a single day. South
American diplomatists and the rep
resentatiyes, Of other neutral coun-
tries less affected by the rigorous pol
icy.of the admiralty are also frequent
callers upon Sir Edward Grey and
his chief assistants.
The suggestion In published dis
patch from any: section of the world
that some country has permitted an
act which might be regarded as a
violation Of neutrality instantly In
spires a visit to the foreign office from