The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-24
ALL RESTRICTIONS ON ENEMY ALIENS
 IN U. 5. REMOVED
Action Becomes Effective Christmas Day and Will Affect Half Million Ger
 man Men and Women
By Associated Press

Washington, December 23. All restrictions on German enemy aliens except those ap- plying to entry into and depar- ture from the United States and those affecting the power of enternment, were ordered removed today by Attorney General Gregory, affective Christmas day. This action was taken on cabled instruc- tions from President Wilson and will affect about 500,000 German men and women.
 It was explained that the depart ment of justice would continue to ex- ercise the power of internment of dangerous German enemy aliens and that the order would not affect such aliens already interned.
 This statement was issued at the department of justice:
 "Cn-the recommendation of the At- torney General, the President has di- rected that on and after Christmas Day the Attorney General discontinue en- forcement of all regulations affecting the conduct of male and female Ger strictions which apply to entry into and departure from the country and those affecting the power of intern ment
 This means that on Christmas Day the permit and pass systems effective against these aliens will be abolished all over the country, and that al pro- hibited areas and restricted zones will go out of existence. All registration regulations will likewise cease. and it will no longer be necessary for Ger man alien enemies to obtain permits for change of residence. In short, they will be freed of all restrictions affect ing places of residence and of em- ployment TO INTERN DANGEROUS ALIENS
 "The Attorney General. however, will continue to exercise as hereto fore. the power to intern all danger ous German alien enemies. The action of the President doese not affect in any way the status of men already in termed or the restrictions and obli- gations heretofore imposed on alien enemies now on parole. Any viola tion of parole will be punished as heretofore
 John Lord O'Brian. special assistan, to the Attorney General. explaining Austrians were not mentioned in the order. said that the only regulations ever applied to them were those with reference to entry and departure and internment. The effect of todays ac- ton is to place Germans and Austrians on the same footing.
 Approximately 250000 Germans would be relieved from the necessity of carrying permits for entry into re- stricted areas while prohibited areas from which they were excluded ab- solutely would again be open to them. These were the District of Columbia the Panama canal. and all water fronts.
 Internment is continuing, Mr. O'Brian said. 10 Germans having been interned on Saturday and six more today. It was learned unofficially at the department of justice between 4000 and 5000 Germans have been interned since the United States entered the war.
 Altogether there were 20 sets of re- strictions affecting German enemy aliens which had been put into effect through presidential proclamations and a half-mile zone from which such aliens were barred. was established around all pavts engaged in direct or indirect war work. arsenals. and all military and naval establishments and water fronts