The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-01-19
PASSING Of THE PASSPORT
Is GRADUALLY BROUGHT ABOUT

Washington. Jan. lS.-The passing or
tho passport - gradually being brought
about IN response - n growing d!Sp"N'-
tirn on Ii" part % tn" nations 10 GET
rta OF hurdcnS"me Wartime regulations
ur trayc,. Persons prominent IN dIp'"-
matte affairs Nsle uDhc~!tat'ngIy pre-
dict that AZ consequence the l'h' IS
not far distant when tourists may cir
die the globe virtually as unhampered
Us in the lays before l9li.
Tho agitation FOR removal OF the
necessity for IN. consular wise upon
passports and letting down Of the
bars in border regulations had It's IN
Ceittuu and strongest backing among
he business men of all nations. Re
s;r!ctlunS upon travel have reacted
upon the commercial life Il those ma
tsnns accustomed 70 gather large yearly
harvcSts from the well-hllcd pockets or
foreign visitors. II was pointed out; and
that reaction 10 the pinch Of wartime
necessity IS likely 10 carry the pendu-
lum oc travel restrictions back to its
Old position.
Belgium was the first to ease the re-
striCtlonS upon travel imposed at the
beginning Of the war. Convinced that
the necessity. for rigid examination or
visitors was at an end with the COM
ing Of 0eace. the Brussels government
SO modified it's restrictions that persons
passing through belgium enroute 10
other countries, and persons intending
to visit Belgium for Il period not great
er than 90 days might do SO without ere
dentials. That move wIs followed by
AGITATION in Switzerland for similar let
ting down of the bars. and tn" recent
action Of switzerland in granting per-
mission FOR visitors 20 enter the coun-
try without passport restrictions Is be-
Ecvrd 10 be Indicative Of tho trend or
thought In virtually al, the other Euro
pcrn countries.
The position OF the United States Is
somewhat different from that OF its SIS
ter nations Il - explained by officials
OF the State Department. Americas re-
etr!ctinus on immigration make It W.T.
ally Important that tn" influx he care
fully sorted at lts points Of origin. II
Is said. and FOR that reason ali persons
intending L. enter this country must
appear before an American consul and
have their passports approved with a
Visa ~ =" d"luE. ih" prospective imhl-
grant ~ sTarcd a trip I" this country
and has return home without being at
lowed t. land because the quota OF M
t!unals of his particular country allowed
to enter America under the new imni.
grafton law had been filled before the
immigrants arrival here. Tho prori'
son for CullinE tmmtrrants abroad WAS
land down BY COncrcsS IN an effort t.
facilitate operation OF The Immigration
laws. and there Is little prospect that
tho rigid rule requiring passport Nisas
will hc rescindcd. II is said.
DtH,. nations adopted tn" custom "'
, requiring viScS on passports shortly
after the American law went Into ct
feet. but their action was rath.n IL the
nature OF retaliation for what wAS be-
lieSed to be an undue hardship imposed
, on their subjects 10y the American reg
uIat.on. IL IS said. and sentiment abroad
Is vecrIng 70 the belief that retaliation
has not paid. and II would b" well t.
make travel Is convenient for Visitors
Americans and others--ns possible"
The action OF belgium and Sutherland
was cited IN support OF that belief. Ia
asmuCh us those TWO countries decided
10 remove restrictions from American
raNclcra without demanding II rc'lpr"'
cal arrangement In this country.