Evening star., 1939-09-24
Stricter Registration
OF Foreign Agents
Ordered by U. S.
Justice Department
Pressing Probe Of
Bund Activities

The State Department frightened
IT'S check on the activities Of for
eign agents in this county yesterday
as the Justice Department pressed
It's investigation of Fritz Kuhn and
other leaders of the German-Ameri-
can Bund.
In two closely allied moves, the
State Department:
promulgated new rules for the
registration of agents of foreign
principals or governments, extend
ing registration requirements to all
acting as publicity agents for for
eign principals even if they nomin-
ally are employed as diplomatic or
consular clerks, but exempting those
engaged in political commercial
activities.
2-Served notice of strict enforce
ment of provisions of the 1917 es-
pionage act. requiring that all for
eign government agents, even if ex-
empt from the newer registration
act, notify the Secretary of State
who they are. where they live and
what their activities are.
Kuhn Not Registered.
Fritz Kuhn, bund leader. has not
registered under either of these acts,
it was learned, and there has been
no attempt to require him to do so
because of lack of evidence that he
receives pay or orders from any
foreign principal or government.
In this connection, it was empha-
sized that Justice Department
agents are carrying forward vigor-
ously an investigation of bund ac-
tivities that first was announced last
January. .
The espionage act requirement
for notification by foreign govern
ment agents of their activities to
the Secretary of State, under pen
atty of up to five years imprison-
ment, has not been enforced since
soon after the World War.
Inclusion of regulations under
this act in a new pamphlet being
distributed by the State Department
to all foreign embassies, consulates
and other interested parties was
taken as sign of the Administra-
tions determination to revive its
strict enforcement as an aid to
safeguarding American neutrality in
the European War.
Supplementary Provisions.
The 1917 acts notification provi-
sions are considered supplementary
to the registration act, first passed
ln 1910 o~onrInl a tho Cfofn
Departments request just before ad-
journment of the last session of
Congress. Those registering under
the new act will have complied with
the old acts notification require
ments.
The new act requires registration
of agents of foreign principals, which
include foreign residents, political
parties, business firms, associations
and domestic organizations subsi-
dized by foreigners, in addition to
foreign governments. The old es-
pionage act applies only to agents
OF foreign governments.
Both apply to American citizens
acting as foreign agents as well as
to aliens. 1t was emphasized that
there is no requirement for the regis
tration of aliens as such.
Regular diplomatic and consular
oficers-already known to the State
Department through their formal
accrediting--are exempt from all the
registration requirements.
Penalties Provided.
The amended registration act re-
quires registration of anyone who
acts as public relations counsel,
publicity agent, agent, servant, rep
resentative or attorney for foreign
principal or government, under pen
atty of up to two years imprisonment.
1t specifically limits exemptions for
diplomatic and consular staffs to
those not acting as public relations
counsels or publicity agents.
The amendment will make un-
cessary registrations by a large
number Of persons, such as advertis-
ing agents, who had been required
to register, by exempting persons
performing private, non-political or
financial activities "in furtherance
OF bona fide trade or commerce" or
engaged in religious, scholastic,
scientific or artistic pursuits.
A clarifying amendment requires
that the registrations be kept up to
date by filing of new statements
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