Evening star., 1939-07-25
State Department
Closes Recent Files
Due 10 Spy Scare
Will Give No information
On Events Happening
After December, 1918
BY the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
While the Department of Justice
moved to combat a marked in
crease" in international espionage by
setting up three field Offices in
Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. it
mas been disclosed that the State De-
partment has thrown further CLOAK
OF secrecy around its files.
An order just issued by the de-
partment says that "in view of the
contemporary international situa-
ton 1t will not be possible to make
the confidential or unpublished files
and records of the department, of a
date later than December 81, 1918,
available TO persons who are not
omcialS of the United States Gov
ernment."
Until now, the files up to and in
Guiding the present year were open
10 limited number of persons such
as professors, students and interna-
tlonal lawyers under certain condi-
tions.
Date Is Significant.
But officials say that with manv
foreign nations hostile or suspicious
toward each other, material from the
1les might be used to inflict further
damage on international amitv.
Hence the order. The date of de-
Observation-Disclosures 81, 19l8-is
slenincant because it marks the close
OF the World War military period
and the beginning of the peace con-
ference, reconstruction and postwar
era.
Even for officials there are certain
restrlctionS-'the use of these rec
ords by Government officials will be
subject to such conditions as the
chlefs OF the appropriate policy di-
visions in the Department of State
may deem 1t advisable to prescribe :"
And there are many restrictions
even Tor consultation of the records
prior to 1918 Permission is limited
TO persons like lawyers. publicists
historians, instructors and profess
sors in accredited colleges and uni-
versltles who have an "important
and definite use for the information
desired" An aliens applicat must
be accompanied by a recommended
ton from the Embassy or Legation
OF his country
Many Other Restrictions.
Such privileged persons may. how
ever, be refused access to some of the
files prior TO 1918 if the foreign gov
ernments mentioned in them do not
agree or If State Department policy
division chiefs deem it inadvisable.
The policy chiefs also decide
whether the inquirer shall only
read the documents laid before him
or whether he may take notes or
make copies of them and whether
ne may publish anything about
them. IT notes or copies are made,
these must be left with the State
Department and will be referred to
the chief OF the policy division con-
cerned, who will have discretion
whether to give them back to the
inquirer or to retain them and re-
fuse him permission to use them.
AAiS oeoSt bNpdI tiilcIlt flldkeS one
concession in saying: The provi-
slons OF this order are to be inter-
preted as literally as possible. In
this regard it is to be borne in mind
that the further it is possible to 70
IN the way of promoting legitimate
historical research and the study of
the foreign policy of the United
States without violating the con-
hdences necessary for the transae-
ton OF diplomatic affairs, the more
likely the department will be to re-
ceive the support and trust of the
intelligent public"
Navy Becomes Secretive.
In taking its action, the State De-
partment is following course
adopted by other departments. The
Navy has become more restrictive in
giving out information on the arm
aments program 1t will not say. for
example, how far construction on
new battleships has advanced.
The F. B. I. field divisions in
Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico to
be reopened were closed in Nav,
1888. because of a deficiency in the
bureaus appropriation