The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-11-05
Commerce Monthly.

In pre-war days travel whether for business or pleasure, was little re- stricted. Certain formaIties, it is true, usually had to be compiled with But neither in Europe nor in America were restrictions rigidly applied. France, for example, had statutes re- quirtng passports from all foreigners coming to her shores, but rarely en- forced these provisions. The laws Of the United States contained provisions covering the issuance of passports to its citizens who were going abroad, but made no requirements with re- Spect to visiting foreigners, who were admitted freely on furnishing evil dence of their bona-f1de character as visitors.
 This comfortable Iaxness continued t .-the outbreak of the war, when fhef European countries immediately ciamped stringent restrictions on both ehtry into and departure from their limits, This was the cause of not a little of the difficulty experienced by Americans who had gone to Europe without passports and who were caught there by the war. Throughout the war passage to and from the sev- Sral European countries was nar- rowly lfmited-in effect, to those on official business.
 The United States, however, did not impose restrictions until nearly a year and 6 half later, when, in con sequence of several en1barra ssing cases of forged passports, the devel opment of an effective system of su- pervision and regulation became inn perative.
 Complete control of the situation. however, was not attained until the passage of the Act of May p, 1918. which delegates to the President. while the country is at war, full power to regulate the entry and de- parture of both citizens and aliens.
 Since the cessa ton of hostilities a year ago, restrictions on travellers have been frightened bit by bit. so that it is again possible to Journey to most countries.
 The American who contempIates a trip abroad must think first of where he wishes to go, and why and whether his reasons are such that our State Department will regard them as sufficiently adequate to warrant issu- ing his passport. In general appli- cants are no longer required to fur nish documentary proof of the urgen: necessity of the contemplated trip nor are the clerks of Federal courts before whom passport applications are made, now expected to discourage applicants, as they have done in the past.
 The greatest interest, naturally, is felt with respect to the conditions under which European countries may be visited, whether for business. pleasure, education, or to visit rela- tives or to settle estates.
 Tourists are now permitted to go to most of the principal countries of Europe-to be specific, such pass ports are being issued for France, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal Italy, Switzerland, the Scandinavia Africa, excepting Egypt. Great Britain IS not yet ready to receive tourists, and consequently passports for this purpose are not being grant ed to that country.
 Passports will be issued to all of the Allied and neutral countries of Europe. and in fact all the world, except Germany, Hungary and parts of Russia, to persons who are going on business, or to commercial trav- elers. Such applications should be accompanied by letters from the or ganizations to be represented by the applicants, showing that the trips contemplated are legitimate, in good faith and reasonably necessary
 Passports likewise are now issued to the wives, children or other close relatives of commercial or business , travellers, or of persons connected with the American armed forces in Europe, either to accompany or to join them in Europe. Such persons need not show that the trip is es- sential, and the length of their stay is limited only by their own conv enience and their ability to secure return passage.
 Members of industrial or trade commissions or Of boards of trade, and, in general, all persons who have legitimate business to transact will be granted passports. However, in cases where the applicant is going abroad to seek employment, special formali- ties sometimes have to be observed. For instance, persons seeking employ rnent in the British Isles must have permits from the British Ministry of Labor before applying for pass- ports.
 Other purposes for which pass ports are issued to ali of the Allied end neutral European countries, ex- cepting parts of Russia. include the settlement of estates, the care of property and the visiting of relatives.
 Passports also are issued to those desiring to visit the graves of sol diers without limitation either on the date of return or on the number of members of the immediate family who may receive such passports. Per sons desiring to resume residence in European countries may now do so, and those who desire to assist rela- lives, either in the war zone or in the territory formerly or now controlled by the Central powers, may obtain passports for Belgium. France, or neutral countries bordering on Ger many Such passports are granted without reference to the citizenship of the relatives, and documentary evidence from abroad is not required to be submitted.