Evening star., 1941-11-16
The Travellers Notebook
New Restrictions to Affect American Pleasure
Traveller Little, if at All; Passports Not to Be
Required for Either Canada or Mexico

give the United States Government
means OF shutting the door tighter
on foreign travel. even though the
host nations fail to tighten their
own systems governing visitors. Un-
der the present policy of the State
Department. there is no disposition
to deny the pleasure traveller his
chance to see South and Central
America. Certain changes in the
international situation could cause
the Passport Division to tighten up.
The means will be at hand.
X X X
A partial text of the State De-
partment release explaining the ef-
feet of the passport order, to be
enforced through a set of regula-
tlons shortly to be issued, follows:
All citizens of the United States
or persons who owe allegiance to
the United States shall after 6
O'Clock in the forenoon of January
Is, 1912, be required to bear valid
passports in order to depart from or
enter the continental United States,
the Canal Zone, the Commonwealth
OF the Philippines, and all terri
tories, continental or insular, sub
Ject to the jurisdiction of the United
States, except that. effective imme-
nlately. no such person shall depart
from or attempt to depart from any
such territory for any foreign coun-
try or territory in the Eastern Hem
lsphere or any foreign country or
territory in the Western Hemisphere
under the jurisdiction of Great Brit
ain in which defense bases are being
constructed by or under contract
with the Government of the United
States unless he bears a valid pass
port ISSUED by or under authority
OF thr Secretary of State.
The regulations will also provide
that passports shall not be required
OF citizens or persons who while not
citizens owe allegiance to the United
States when travelling between the
continental United States and the
territories Of Hawaii. Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands, or between
any such places. between points In
the continental United States and
points in Canada and Mexico. and
between the continental United
States and islands adjacent to Cam
ada or the United States or the
Islands Of the West Indies. except
any such island as is subject TO the
jurisdiction of American
country other than Great Britain. "
As for travel TO Mexico. no reStric-
tions are applied TO American citi-
zens by the United States Govern
ment although Mexico itself re-
quires the traveller 10 be equipped
with tourist card for entry. The
latest circular of the State Depart
ment on Mexican requirements is
dated last October 90 and is still
applicable. 1t reads.
Passports and visas are required
Of United States citizens entering
Mexico in anv category except tour
lists. Visas gratis. No passports or
visas required of tourists who enter
directly from the United States. but
they must be in possession of Ger
tiflcate Of Identification tourist
CARD which should be obtained from
Mexican consnl Passports and visas
required of American tourists who
proceed to Mexico from any coun-
try outside the United States. Pass
ports not required of American legal
residents Of Mexico who depart and
return in possession of Mexican i'm
mioration card No IA"
Gatewavs to Canada remain de-
void Of red tape. the northern neigh
Dor requiring only satisfactory iden-
tiflcation as an American citizen
bent on travel that has no sinister
motive. This identification often can
be established for the ordinary tour
iSt by such informal cards and pa
pers as a drivers license. letter,
credit cards, etc. or-better but not
reQuired-a birth certificate or a
passport, either valid or old.
Extreme fire hazards in the ma
t.onal forests and parks come and