Evening star., 1941-06-17
Consulutes
Continued From First Page)

man Embassy, Mr.. Welles charged
that improper activities of the Ger
man consulates and propaganda
agencies made their continued pres
ence "inimical to the welfare of this
country"
The order took on added signif1-
canoe in connection with President
Roosevelt's action Saturday In freez-
ing German and italian assets in
this country.
Prevents Propaganda.
Effect of the two steps, it was
pointed out, is to deprive Germany
of the personnel and unrestricted
funds she is alleged to have been
utilizing in an effort to impair the
efficiency of the defense program
The funds now are under Federal
control and the consular and agency
personnel must leave the country
Agencies affected by the order
are the German Library of Infor-
nation in New York, the Trans
Ocean News Service and the Ger
man Railway and Tourist Agencies
ALL considered semi official Nazi
propaganda organizations.
Although July 10 was set as the
deadline. the New York offices oi
the German Railroads Information
Service were closed to the public
today. Nine employees were said tc
be on duty, however.
I'VE have no comment to make,
said an attache, who declined to give
his name. I'm fact, We haven't been
notified officially of the order yet
but we're keeping the Office closed
to the public, if that's the way the
Government wants it."
The fund-freeZing order applies
to the German-American Bund ano
other organisations considered to be
engaged in Nazi or Fascist propa-
ganda, it was indicated John w
Pehle, assistant to the Secretary OF
the Treasury, said yesterday ii
seemed fairly clear that funds of
such organizations came within
scope of the Presidents order and
he assumed they already we're frozen
by banks and other financial in
stitutions.
Alien Control Voted.
On another front, in a drive to
cut off subversive activities at the
source, the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee yesterday approved bill to
give the President discretionary au-
thority over the entry of aliens into
the United States or their departure
after being told by the State De-
partment that the number of per-
sons engaged in espionage and un-
American activities generally here
exceeds the total of World War days
German retaliation for the con-
sular and agency closing order was
generally expected. Nature of the
steps taken by the Nazis probably
will have a direct influence on con-
tinuance of any form of diplomatic
relations, it was believed in in
formed quarters.
Nevertheless, Senator Guffey,
Democrat, of Pennsylvania, men,
ber of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, declared that this Gov
ernment's action was "just what
should have been done"
Senators Approve.
Senator Connally, Democrat, o1
Texas, another member of the For.
eign Relations Committee, asserted
that some of the German consul.
ates doubtless have been the source
of Nazi propaganda, perhaps of sab.
otage, and certainly of strike agita-
ton in national defense plants. Al
of them may not have been guilty
but those that have certainly ought
to be. closed"
Chairman Reynolds of the Senate
Military Committee said that there
was little doubt that Germany ha.
used some of her consulates fol
propaganda purposes" and that th'
consulates may have had something
to do with defense strikes.
Senator McCarran, although de.