The Washington times., 1916-12-16
POLICEMAN EQUAL TO JOB
London officer Has to stand Re.
Dukes Of Many Nations.

LONDON, Nov. 20 lby mall -
There 10 n police officer attached to
the registration bureau OF the Albany
street police station here today who
has attained a pinnacle In the field
OF diplomacy. His daily work II TO
deal with enemy aliens, mostly Ger
man and Austrian wcmen, who have
not been informed for the duration OF
the war.
In many cases he must speak the
German language. which to the aver
age Englishman IL like asking him to
use blasphemy. Yet through the day
he maintains a pleasant demeanor; an.
swera unnumerabie queries and
smiles In the face OF sarcasm.
The allen women who form the
bulk OF those who make this police
officers life a struggle between diplo'
macy aud patriotic emotion. are Aus
TRAN and German by birth, but Eng.
lish by marriage: exempt from the
strict internment laws. but still sub
Ject to police supervision. They are
registered In the police station and
whenever they desire TO 40 to any
point outside n nve-mile radius OF
London. they must secure n police
permit.
Apply TO Dipiomssiss.
Sometimes scores OF enemy aliens
apply to the Albany street diplomat
list for permits TO make weekend
visits to places In the country. Re-
Gently an Austrian woman spent an
hour heckling the officer regarding
her intended weekend. Her eyes
were sad. but her tongue was sharp.
In a voice that indicated impending
tears, she made her request;
II wish to visit Rickmansvort, she
told the registration officer. Must
I always come here ven want TO leave
even for "A few days.
I'm sorry. madam" said the dip
lomGtist. hut you VIII also have TO
report at the RicEmansworth police
station every twenty-four hours dur
ing your visit"
"oh, how crucS" she sobbed. how
brutal 10 make "A lady always 40 by
police stations; my life In n continual
visit TO Jails and jail keepers"
ut IL n war measure" sighed the
registrar for the hundredth time that
day. III you want TO leave London,
you'll have to comply with the regu-
"And my little dog. she Is with my
friends just outside OF London. Must
! get a permit 10 see herr
Can Give Permit.
"Yes. can give you a permit to
see your dog" replied the officer. but
you must register at the police sta
ton there the time OF your arrival
and departure"
There followed the weeping scene
in which the lady OF enemy birth re-
viewed her past, her present and fu-
ture and called upon the Almighty
to witness her persecution, There
were a score of aliens waiting while
the woman cast anathemas at the cool
policeman who maintained an un-
ruffled composure throughout.
1.-The regulations are admittinglv
strict. but not nearly so bad as those
OF your own country" he explained.
''If II were possible for me 10 allow
YOU to go freely about this country
/ would gladly do so. But ] can't
and YOU must comply with our laws"
That Is so kind OF you" was the
biting sarcasm the Austrian woman
nung back as she left with her per-
mits.
she was followed before the regis
tration desk by every sort OF an allen.
Americans, Dutch. French, Portu-
guese, naturalized Germans. Serbians,
the whole gamut OF nations made
their requests 10 the in'ner'"rheh'"
out a single DEPRESSION from diplo-
matte politeness.
Through two years OF war. he has
been abused, jibed, and maligned
daily by aliens grown weary under
rigid restrictions. He has reached the
point OF super-diplomacy where
nothing short OF a personal arront