New-York tribune., 1918-12-24
Wilson Lifts
Restrictions ON
Enemy Aliens
Presidents Cabled Instrtlc-
tions Will Affect About
100000 Men and Women

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-All restric-
tions on German enemy aliens except
those applying for entry into and de-
parture from the United States and
those affecting the power of intern
ment, were ordered removed to-day by
Attorney General Gregory, effective
Christmas Day. This action was taken
on cabled instructions from President
Wilson and will affect about 250,000
German men and women.
1t was explained that the Department
of Justice would continue to exercise
the power of internment of dangerous
German enemy aliens, and that the
order will not affect such aliens al
ready interned.
Permit and Pass Abolished
This statement was issued at the
Department of Justice:
con the recommendation of the At
torney-General the President has di-
rected that on and after Christmas Day
the Attorney General discontinue en-
the conduct of male and female German
alien enemies except those restrictions
which apply to entry into and departure
from the country and those affecting
the power of internment.
This means that on Christmas Day
the permit and pass systems effective
against these aliens will be abolished
all over the country, and that all pro-
hibited and restricted zones will go out
of existence. All registration regula-
tions will likewise cease, and it will no
longer be necessary for German alien
enemies to obtain permits for change
of residence. In short. they will be
freed Of all restrictions affecting
places of residence and Of employment.
"The Attorney General, however
will continue to exercise as heretofore
the power to intern all dangerous Ger
man alien enemies. The action of the
President does not affect in any way
the status of men already interned OF
the restrictions and obligations here
tofore imposed on alien enemies nov
on parole. Any violation of parole viii
be punished as heretofore"
Internment Not Abolished
John Lord O'Brian, special assistant
to the Attorney General, explaining
why Austrians were not mentioned il
the order, said that the only regula'
tions ever applied to them were those
with reference to entry and departure
and internment. The effect of to-day:
enactment is to place Austrians and
Germans on the same footing. Approx
imately 250,000 Germans would be re
lieved from the necessity of carrying
permits for entry into restricted areas
while the prohibited areas from which
they were excluded absolutely woulC
the District of Columbia, the Panama
Canal Zone and all water fronts
Internmcnt is continuing, Mr.
O'Brian said, ten Germans having beer
interned on Saturday and six more to-
day. 1t was learned unoTicially at The
Department of Justice that bctweer
1000 and 5000 Germans have been in
termed since the United States entered
the war.
Altogether there were twenty sets o
restrictions affecting German enem,
aliens which had been put into effec
through Presidential procIamations
and half-mile zone from which sucl
aliens were barred was establishe,
around all plants engaged in direct o
indirect war work, arsenals and all mil
itary and naval establishments an,
waterfronts.
The number of Germans registere,
in the principal cities were: New York
including nearby New Jersey points
$4,000; Philadelphia, 10000; Boston
1000; St. Louis, 5000; Chicago, 27OOC
and San Francisco, $500.