Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-07

This Is the passport season. when
thousands Of Summer tourists are tax
ing the facilities of the Passport d.
vision of the Department Of State for
formal credentials enabling them to en-
ter foreign countries Indica tons are
that the season will be the largest In
history.
The native-born American. accustom-
ed to the free usages Of the United
States. upon making his hrst applica-
ton. will be surprised at the inquisi-
tiveness Of his Government concerning
personal details of his life. A usual
FIRST reaction is that the Department
Of State is merely an old gossip want
ing to know o lot of things which are
none of its business. However, ex-
perience will show that the information
must be forthcoming unless the traveller
Is willing TO face complications abroad
and probable refusal Of entry in for
eign lands.
Through operation of special courtesy
arrangements, q few countries do not
require passports Of American citizens
These are Canada, Mexico, Cuba, the
British island possessions of Bermuda
and the Bahamas, the Dominican Re-
public, Haiti, Honduras, the Republic
of Panama and Uruguay.
Also, courtesy arrangements have
been made by which O widow, child
parent, brother or sister Of an Ameri-
can soldier, sailor or marine buried
abroad may visit his grave, but in such
cases proper papers must be obtained
from the Department Of War showing
proof Of claim Of relationship. The
validity Of such passports extends only
to the country where the soldier Is
buried or countries which must be
traversed en- route. American seamen
do not. as q rule. require passports
their seamens certificates being ample
AS O matter of fact the Department
of State Is not idly inquisitive. in ask
ing all the questions it does of passport
applicants. Oficials and clerks are
not merely using their positions to
find out all they can about the per-
sonai life of the applicant, however
The prime reason for insistence upon
the data Is that the United States
Government Is responsible for it's cit
liens wherever they may 20. The
novice applicant, when asked by the
Department Of State why he desires to
60 to foreign country and how long
he expects to stay, may feel strongly
irnpelled to reply tartly, None of
your business" But 1t is the Govern
the citizen. Government responsible
ity cannot sleep If an American is
going abroad TO engage In some occu-
patton which the Department Of State
knows to be against the laws of the
country to be visited. the trip thereby
probably resulting in complications. it
feels 1t has right to take preventive
steps, The applicant may not know
there is anything wrong in what he
plans to do.
Some Of the Stumbling Blocks.
Also. there are hundreds Of treaties
In force between the United States and
foreign countries. These have diverse
clauses, some calling for exchange of
information about persons moving back
and forth. Matters of citizenship are
of the utmost importance and must
be clearly established Property and
other rights may be affected.
Indeed, the United States Govern
nent is about the least inquisitive Of
governments In this matter Of who q
do. European countries go into great
details. Our own passport regulations
have been strengthened as result OF
the war. but are generally regarded
by world travellers of experience as
being quite liberal.
One OF the very first requirements
Of the Department Of State which fire.
quently irk persons born here and
whose forbears were born here for gen
erations relates to the birth Of the ap-
plicant. Where possible birth certih-
cate must be submitted. The novice
applicant Is likely to think Of the old
story about the man making out a
census return, who. after the question
Born" wrote. Yes" It seems to hin,
that 1t should be obvious to the De-
partment Of State that he is alive and
cent American. 50 when he is called
upon formally TO prove that he was