The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-07
PROTECTION OF
 LOYAL FOREIGNERS
 ID BE CONSIDERED
Fears Felt That Publicity as to Spy Hunt Would Cause Innocent People to
 Suffer
By Associnted Press

Washington, July 6.-Although officials here take little stock in the more sensa- tional spy rumors that have followed the submarine attack on the American ex- peditonary force, 1t is not unlikely that the agitation may result in more strin- gent espionage regulations, particularly with regard to outgoing mails and ca bles
 No general realignment of the spy de- lection machinery of the government is contemplated, it was said today, because officials consider that results of the pres ent system have demonstrated it's effi- ciency It has been declared authorita- lively that startling revelations of what already has been accomplished might be made if 1t were considered in the public interest
 NO HYSTERIA WANTED
 The government realizes that such a course probably would serve no good pur- pose and might generate a spy hysteria of dangerous proportions, like the scares which resulted in injustice to innocent persons in several European countries earlier in the war. It also would warn the spies themselves of the methods em-
 
 ployed here.
 In view of the loyal attitude of the large body of German-Americans, it Is considered particularly important that there be no unnecessary engendering of suspicion against the foreign born.
 INEVITABLE THING
 That the efficient German spy system Is operating in this country is considered by high officials as one of the inevitable circumstances of the war. The large for egn population undoubtedly makes espio- mage easier than in most countries. It is pointed out that Great Britain and France with much more homogeneous pop ulations, have not succeeded in getting rid of spies, nor has Germany itself been able to keep invaluable military inror- nation from it's enemies.
 Many officials believe there should be closer government control of outgoing cables and legislation to that end may be asked It is possible also that power will be sought to censor outgoing mails.
 MAIL CENSORSHIP
 The question of cable censorship has been widely discussed, but that of cen soring malls has received little attention. The British have obtained an enormous amount of information from mail inspec- ton especially as to German activities in neutral lands and trade intrigues. Post master General Burleson, however, said today that mail censorship to neutral countries Is not necessary.
 Communication to Spain will first be investigated by this government, as mes sages sent there via Cuba do not in any way come under British surveillance. There are many wireless plants in Spain by which the Germans there undoubtedly are communicating direct with Berlin.
 After today's cabinet meeting. at which reports of the safe arrival of the Amer ican expedition were presented, the mem bers said the spy question had not been taken up. Several declared the published reports of spy activities have been ex- aggerated and Attorney General Gregory said he considered there was nothing new or alarming in the situation. He denied that he Is considering a plan for con solidation of all the detection agencies of the government and said President Wilson had not taken a personal hand in the question so far as he knew.