New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-04
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The conditions which govern travel in
England this year are quite different from
those Of 1915. These conditions are practi-
oally unknown TO people in America, and
many persons whose business is not OF the
most urgent character would most likely
avoid going abroad IL aware Of the nquisi-
torial and annoying interviews with the
police which they must undergo. The relation
Of my experience will convey some idea of
the present laws relating to aliens.
When landed in Liverpool went straight
10 London. was there day and accident
Llly learned that | should have reported my
self to the police at once upon arrival. l
then went TO the Vine Street police station
and reported. After waiting over half an
hour until other "neutrals" who before
me had been attended to, I was reprosched
by the officer in charge of the Office for not
having reported before, was given a form"
&c il out and told to call again the next day.
called as requested and was given an "iden-
tity book" Zone shilling, please). In this
was registered the place of birth of the sp-
Plicant, date of birth, names OF father and
mother and where each was born, my bust
ness in England at this time, whether mar
ried or single-in all about twenty ques-
tons. Besides, | had to give the names and
addresses of two British-bo householders
who knew me and supply the police with two
photographs of myself, one to be retained by
them and the other to be put in the book. OF
course, signing my name many times here
and there in the book and on different
forms" must not be overlooked. Later in
the day, or early next day, had to call and
get the book, when the names given as refer
ences were verified.
II must be remembered that each visit re-
quires from half an hour 70 an hour Of pre-
liminary waiting in gloomy room and in
company which, sometimes, is not very de-
sirsble. The officials were civil, and on the
whole, considerate. That my passport had
20 be shown goes without saying.
Now, there is nothing in all this, other
than ordinary precaution, but when one goes
outside of London for the night, or to
friends house for the weekend, one must
report to the police before departure and
have the book stamped, report to the local
police upon arrival, book stamped again, and
report to the London police upon return and
have the book stamped once more. | had TO
60 to Glasgow. Before | left London on the
sleeper | had TO have my Identification book
stamped again'by the police. When arrived
IN Glasgow had to go to the nearest police
station and have my book stamped; besides,
had to wait my turn in very small space
among lot of other travellers, and then.
after these were disposed of, | was interro-
gated all over again, had TO sign my name
and so on.
When | returned TO London next day I
concluded that life was too long and too
lovely to be worried by police regulations. so
] engaged passage by the first steamer which
left Liverpool. | thought that would 90
there the day before sailing in order that I
might see one or two old friends. What a
mistakel Although I was embarkng for
America in the morning Of the next day. I
received grilling which will always remain
wildly impressed upon my memory. Every
conceivable question was asked me, 10 which
replied as calmly rising indignation
would permit. The examiner was quite hard
Of hearing, got my name wrong, though it
was plainly written in the book, and asked
me no end of foolish questions
Finally he went 20 a room inside, and after
some minutes returned with a sharp-nosed
man who said, you stated that you have
known these two men in London British
born subjects) about thirty years." Eyes.
did" "But you only landed here on July 8
this year," 81 may have been in England in
previous years; besides, unless this state
inent was true could not have obtained the
card from the London police" He admitted
this and passed me on TO another man who
would not stamp the card without an i'm
preston OF my thumb, like any common
criminal, This reflects on the common sense
Of the authorities. and will always be looked
upon by the victims as a gross humiliation
and insult was going to New York the