Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20

BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Americans who contemplate touring
England and Europe in their own au-
tOmobiles will be interested in q book
let just issued by the Department OF
Commerce which is called Taking
Your Car to Europe" This publica.
ton was prepared. 1t is stated. to meet
the increasing number OF inquiries
from persons contemplating taking
their cars with them for use in Eu-
rope. and for the reinsurance OF those
who may have been deferred in the
past by alleged customs difficulties
and other exactions reported as likely
to interfere with such a plan.
1t makes 1t clear that all the Ameri.
can needs who wants to travel abroad
under his own power, so to speak, is
an automobile. an amount OF money
over and above his travelling expenses
and the foresight to make essential
arrangements before he leaves home
The latter requirement involves the
procuring OF triptyoue. The mere
name OF the thing to be procured
sounds impressive and difficult.
AS matter Of fact, however, a
triptyque is simply an international
customs pass card. which comes in
three parts-hence the name-and it
Is comparatively easy matter to get
one.
Cash Deposit or Bond.
Travellers are informed by IJncle
Sam that In general way 1t can be
said that automobiles may be taken
for limited time into most European
and Med1terran countries for tour.
Ing purposes free Of duty, by making
a cash deposit, to be refunded later
or by giving bond, to be Cancelled Ia ter
for the amount of the import duties,
or by using the triptyque privilege
furtnermore, as rule, no duty is
levied on personal effects, such as
clothing or toilet accessories, or other
provisions necessary for the journey
and in keeping With the station OF the
traveller, although most countries
limit the amount of tobacco. candy or
liquor that may be so imported.
so far as taking an automobile is
concerned, the big idea Is the trip
tyaue. 1t obviates the necessity OF
putting up bond or a cash deposit
at each crossing of a frontier. and the
delay and Inconvenience incidental to
obtaining the cancellation Of bond
or the refund Of the money deposited
when leaving a country are avoided.
All that fs required is the correct no.
tation on the stub Of the tourists
triptyque at the time Of entry and OF
hnal departure, and that involves the
minimum OF time and trouble.
An international Convention,
In those countries Of Europe which
are parties to the International Auto.
mobile Convention, signed at Paris in
1903. arrangements are in force
whereunder the customs officials grant
to recognized touring organizations
authority to accept on deposit a sum
duty levied on motor vehicles by any
country Of those to be visited by a
tourist member. and to issue therefor
a receipt called a triptyque, permit.
ting the members car to pass the
frontiers Of any Of these countries
without payment Of duty
page or sheet Of the triptyque is
filled out for each country to be Wis.
tied, one part Of which is to be re-
tanned at the frontier, one part by the
customs authorities at the point of
exit. and the third part. properly in.
dorsed, by the tourist. as proof that
the car has left the country in ques-
ton. Then the tourist presents this
third part to the club or organiza
ton that issued the triptyque and
gets back the cash deposit he has
made.
HQuNl 10 MaXlTNum Duty.
The amount of this cash deposit, 1t
should be understood, Is not the sum
OF the import duties on his car levied
by all the countries which the tourist
plans to visit. 1t is merely the equiv.
alent Of the maximum duty that is
levied by any one OF the countries
For instance, il there are five coun.
tries in the proposed itinerary, and
they would levy, respectively, import
duties Of 500, 5000, $3.50, $3.50 and
$500 on the car in question, the tour
list must deposit $500 to get his trip
tyque that will let him into and out
Of all the countries without any fur
Their formalities or expense, and in the
end he will get his $500 back, provided
he has brought his car back.
The countries signatory to the in
ternational convention are Austria
| Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia
| Denmark, Finland, France and Al
geria, Germany, Hungary. Italy
Morocco. Netherlands, Norway, Pc
land, Portugal, Rumania, Spain
| Sweden, Switzerland, the United
Kingdom and Jugoslavia.
/