Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-11-24
Russian Agitators
By the Hundreds
For United States

The Hague, Nov. 10-(By Associat-
ed Press)-American diplomatic Off
+cials abroad who are in possession of
evidence of propaganda schemes
originating in Moscow are opposed to
any attempt to abandon the United
States passport and visa systems
now in operation. This is because
they. are convinced that the Russian
Soviet government has been attempt
ing to send hundreds of dangerous
agitators to the United States.
Wartime passport regulations have
been considerably modified, both for
Americans and foreigners seeking
American visas. in the past few
months and every attempt will be
made, it was said. to make travel as
easy as possible abroad next summer.
But, in face of the evidence which has
accumulated during the past few
months. believe to indicate deter
mined effort by the Bolshevik gov
ernment to spread its Jurisdiction to
America. the diplomatic officials do
rot, wish to- surrender their most po-
tent safeguard against it-passport
control.
:. $50 far as the WOULD he emIgrant is
concerned. one American official
said, things have just been SO sim
plifled for him that, in ten minutes
time. providing his own government
considers him a worthy subject and
has so evidenced this by giving him
passport, he can answer all the
questions We want to know about
him. If he is satisfactory, he can
get his visa the. same day and be on
his way to the United States speedily.
The American travelling abroad
viii get all the assistance possible to
Sgtve him. If he frets because of the
necessity OF securing .yisas from va
rioue other consulates if he wishes to
visit several countries and objects to
frontier, inspections-he must re-
member that perhaps the man who
sat next to him in the railway car
was Bolshevik or an anarchist, en-
route some place with a bomb, who
might be stopped at the frontier be-
fore he could throw the bomb.
Americans coming abroad will
save themselves much difficulty if,
Just as they go to the bank before
leaving to get letter of credit, they
Will secure at foreign consulates in
America visas permitting them to en-
ter all the countries they wish to
visit" ~.
While most of the bolshevik agents
enroute to America seek to get
through on false seaman's certificat es
or by other surreptitious means. ac-
cording to American officials here
there are a number of neryy ones
who appear 1t American passport
bureaus, from time to time, and re-
quest legitimate visas.
During recent week at an Amer.
lean passport bureau in Holland ont
of 20 persons refused visas four were
known to be revolutionary agitators.
and three were international crimi-
mails.
The United States Surgeon Gener-
ais office has recently established at
some of the big embarkation ports in
europe bureaus of sanitary inspec.
ton and Quarantine. which, cooperat-
ing with the local medical authori-
ties, seek to prevent diseased emf
grants from going to the United
States.
1.-THE whole effort" one official
said. lis, by passport control and
medical inspection, to control the Sit
uation on this. side, thus relieving
Ellis Island and the other immigrant
statfons at home of much. work"