Evening star., 1938-02-11
AL|ENPL0TSBARED'
BY RUBENS PROBE
American Passports Being
Used to Get Agents Into
Foreign Lands.
Ry JAMES T. WILLIAMS, Jr.


From an American point Of view the
celebrated Rubens case. now under in
vestigation at Moscow. is serving one
useful purpose it was admitted in au-
thoritative quarters today. In explor-
ing the ramifications of the strange
circumstances, under which this mys-
terlous couple appear to have obtained
their passports. the Government in
vestigators are unearthng alien ac-
tivities North. East, South and West.
not hitherto realized.
What is even more surprising is the
number Of citizens who. innocentlv or
otherwise, have been aiding and abet-
ting what appears to be q whole nest
Of conspiracies to get agents into GER
tain foreign lands. armed with Amer
ican passports. presumably for the pur-
pose of doing espionage work for for
elgn governments
One OF the confusing things about an
American passport is that its bearer
may be able to speak only few
words of English This happens in
cases where the father and mother.
after becoming naturalized. returned
to the land OF their nativity to bring
up their children. or. where the
parents having died. the children are
returned whence their parents came
to be brought up by their relatives.
Hence. when persons with American
passports turn up abroad and are
unable TO speak much English it by
no means follows that they are not
entitled to the papers they present.
This makes it easier for American
passports to go astray without the
theft being detected.
Recruiting Also Probed.
BY the time all the ramif1cations of
the Rubens case have been explored
every large city in this country. 1t is
believed. will have contributed its
chapter to this case or similar cases
where American passports have been
misused. What American investiga-
tors are particularly interested in
finding out is what foreign govern
ments are recruiting on American soil
their espionage forces for work in
Europe. Asia and Latin America.
In addition to agents for this pur-
pose, some Americans. who appear to
take their citizenship none too SER
iously. have been busily engaged, it is
admitted. in recruiting soldiers for
the armies of LoyaliSt Spain. Some
5000 young Americans-mosto of them
native born, and some of them the
sons of naturalized Americans-haye
gone from this country to fight against
the insurgent forces in Spain.
The main effort of the American
Government is to run down those
agents. who. whether alien or native
born. are recruiting these young
Americans to fight for pay in a civil
war across the Atlantic There is a
law against such recruiting and it is
gong to be enforced with vigor.
New Safeguards Hoped For.
BY the time the investigation of the
Rubens case is completed and indict-
ments against those believed to be in
Volved in it have been returned, a mass
OF evidence. will be at the disposal of
the Government. according to present
indications. In the light of the facts
thus obtained the hope is that addi-
tlonal safeguards can be set up to pro-
tect American passports from going
astray New ways may also be de-
veioped to prevent citizens or aliens
from buying up recruits for foreign
armies or for foreign espionage work
either here or abroad.
Congress is in the mood II is said
to help the Government with anv
additional legislation required to nut
stop to the buying of American SOL
diers Or American passports for use
by foreign governments overseas. And
the cooperation Of Canada and tn.
republics to the south will be enlisted
to take similar steps within their re-.
spective borders.
Copyright. 1898. by CHICAGO Daily Nov.
Inc.D