The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-17
Dangerous Aliens Will No Longer Be Free to Leave
 Country as They Choose
MUST HAVE PERMIT
 TO LEAVE THE U. s.
Additional Restrictions Also to Be Placed on Entry of Aliens Into United States-Draft Eva
 sion to Be Made Harder

Washington, August 16. Freedom of departure from this country of aliens, by means of which a number of dangerous enemy agents have been able to escape from the authorities since the United States entered the war, will not be permitted after September 15, under a proclamation signed by Presi- dent Wilson and an executive order, both of which were made public tonight by the state de- partment. The proclamation and executive order puts into effect the alien control law passed by Congress last May. Under the executive order aliens after September 15 will be required to ob- | tain permits before leaving the United States and additional restrictions will 1 be placed on the entry of aliens into this country. Attempts to evade the draft through leaving the country, which officials believe will increase with passage of the bill extending draft ages, will be rendered less easy l of accomplishment by the new restric- tions.
 | "Heretofore American citizens have been required to make applications fer passports in order to go abroad and to explain to the satisfaction of the l department of state the necessity vf I their trips, while aliens have been per- I mitted to depart freely without making applications for or explaining their trips" said an explanatory statement issued by the state department to- night "The new law now places aliens l in this respect on basis similar to l that of citizens.
 l "It is believed many aliens have been
 leaving the United States as German agents, carrying information abroad for the use of the enemy The new
 law is designed to prevent the depar- ture of all such enemies of the United States. There have been numerous in
 stances of the operations of such Ger man paid agents and spies who have 1 left the country because there was no l law to prevent their departure"
 In this connection the state depart ment statement pointed out the free-
 dom with which such persons as Robert Fay, organizer of German bomb plots; Franz von Ritelen and Fay's asso- 1 ciate, Dr. Walter R. Scheele, have been
 able to escape.
 HOW LAW OPERATES The new law, according to the state department statement. will operate as l follows:
 "Aliens desiring to leave the United States will be required to make appii- cation to the immigrint inspector or Limited Sttaes district attorney near est his place of residence. Aliens liv- ing east of the Mississippi shall make such application not less than IA days nor more than 2S days before the date ] of the proposed sailing. Those living west of the Mississippi shall make ap- lplcation not less than 1S days nor moro than 28 days before date of sailing. l Each alien must also submit a passport l issued, renewed or visaed within 10 I days prior to the date of his application and must bring with him as witness an l American citizen who can testify to tho
 
 tion.
 Permits to depart will be granted only if it shall affirmatively appear that there Is reasonable necessity for the journey and that such departure Is deemed not to be prejudicial to the in- lterest of the United States. Provision has been made under the new law for 1.-the travel of American citizens to and from our insular possessions or citf- Izens identity cards to be issued by inn migration officials in lieu of regular passports and similar provision has been made for citizens and aliens Iiv- ling on either side of the Mexican bor- der within the 10-mile limit for border lcrossing Such cards will be issued by immigrant inspectors.
 No passports or permits of the kind I mentioned will be required of persons 1 going to Canada, but male persons of draft age will be required to carry per mits issued by their local boards. "The entry and departure of all sea- men, both citizens and aliens. will be lcontrolled under the new law, through 1.-the issuance of seamen's identity cards. lSeamen's identity cards will be issued Ito incoming seamen by tho immigra- jtion and customs officials acting in this tcapacity under the Jurisdiction of the department of state.
 Permits to depart. when issued. should be presented to the control ot- ficer of the port of departure not less lthan 24 hours before the proposed date of sailing The departure of enemy Ialiens and allies of enemy aliens will be governed by existing regulations un- til September 16."