Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-15
u. s. INTERVIEWS
!. TO GET PASSPORTS
Residents of New York, Not
Citizens, Refused Entrance
to India. IS ,se
BY FREDERICK WILLIAM VILE.

nA EhEDEnAth WILLIAM WlLBs
What amounts to the first diplomatic
incident between the United States and
Great Britain, in connection with the
troubled state of affairs in India, Is
now engaging the attention Of the State
Department. The incident relates to
the refusal of the British government
to give a passport visa for India to
Prof. Nicholas Roerich and his son,
Nicholas. jr., who are residents of New
York City
The State Department has made in
quiries of the British embassy in WASH
ington as TO the cause of the London
authorities unwillingness to speed the
Roerichs on the way to India. The
department. Is acting. in the case of
Russlan-born persons who are not
American citizens, because two institu-
lions with which they are identified
are American corporations. One is the
Corona Mundi," a museum of art on
Riverside Drive, New York, and the
other is the American Institute Of
Archaeology, of which Prof. Roerich re-
Gently became an honorary vice presi-
dent. The Roerichs, father and son,
are now in London, awaiting the out
come OF Washington steps on their
behalf.
Came From Russia.
Prof. Roerich and his family appear
to have come to the United States from
Russia some IL or Is years ago. He is
painter and archaeological explorer by
profession and his standing in both the
art and scientific worlds in this country
is said by friends to be high. Corona
Mundi' is described as museum and is
supported by wealthy New York Inter
national idealists" for the reputed pur-
pose OF promoting world peace through
the arts.
Prof. Roerich is the principal ex-
ponent Of the cult and has contrived to
interest large group of supporters In
his ideals for bringing about warless
world through art. Corona Mundi" is
sykscraper building overlooking the
river. 1t is filled with Roerich paintings
interpretative of his art-peace ideals,
and Is rallying center for musicians,
painters, sculptors, dancers and actors
who are identified with Roerich ideals.
The Roerichs, father and son, are
possessors OF passports issued by the
hrst Russian provisional government
(kerensky) regime and seem to have
been admitted to the United States on
them. They have not yet been natural
lied into American citizenship, but are
understood to have taken out their frst
papers to that end. The Roerichs state
that they desire to revisit India for
archaeological exploration.
Have Indian Estate.
They have been there often before.
They own q considerable estate near
Simla,, the Summer capital of India.
Roerich, ST., has written an Indian
archaeological book called "Himalaya"
and his son, Nicholas, jr., has pro-
duced one entitled Banners Of Tibet"
Their friends say that the Roerichs are
romantic travel adventures, who are
fond OF invading strange and dangerous
regions In quest Of scientific and artistic
lore. One of their habits Is said to
be to attire themselves in native COST
tune and, because of their linguistic
abilities, to live more or less the lives
of the exotic peoples with whom they
establish contact.
Just why the British authorities are
not disposed to let the Roerichs re-
visit India has not been disclosed at
Washington. Presumably the reason is
that John Bull feels that this Is not
the right moment for admitting any
more international idealists" than are
absolutely necessary The British, too,
may be reluctant to welcome into trou-
bled India any person of direct Rus
sian origin, even II diplomatic repre-
sensations on their behalf are forth
coming from the United States.
The State Department is, of course,
not in position to demand that the
British authorities shall let into British
territory any persons who for any rea-
SON are looked upon as undesirable
aliens. The United States, almost every
day, for one cause or another, Is put
ting up the bars on our sea fronts and
borders against men and women with
whose presence on American soil Uncle
Sam can afford to dispense.
Copyright 1897