Evening star., 1942-01-27

Star Stdf Photo.
take opportunity to emphasize that
the requirements for obtaining q
certificate of Identification should
involve no expense other than the
cost Of the photographs. The Gov
ernment, through its post ofhces,
and otherwise, will assist the appli-
cant as much as possible. He may
also be able to obtain advice or as
sistance from one Of the many social
service agencies that are co-operat-
ing with us in making the require
ments Of the identification program
known as widely as possible.
Certificates to Be Delivered.
After the alien has made out his
application forms, he will, within .
few days, receive . certificate Of
Identification. It will be delivered to
him at his home. While he may be
obliged to make some special ar
rangements to be there to accept de-
livery, this will save him q second
trip to the post office. The certifi-
cate, in booklet form, will bear his
photograph, print of his right in
dex finger, and his signature. It
will also contain brief description
of his physical characteristics, and
have space in it where any change
Of address or occupation can be re-
corded. The alien will be required
to carry the certificate with him
at all times.
The certificate of Identification
will be in some situations a pro-
lection to its owner, and will identify
him as one who has complied with
the law and given evidence Of his
peaceful disposition. 1t will also
serve to facilitate the issuance Of
travel permits and passes, and per-
haps later exemptions which may be
granted from time to time in ac-
cordance with existing rules and
regulations.
To many who have lived in
Europe, the certificate of identifica-
ton will be nothing new. Even
during peacetime, a number OF
European governments required
travellers and other aliens to carry
similar identification credentials.
Such identification means are nee
essary in any nation where strict
control may be necessary. While the
issuance Of certificates will give the
United States Government tighter
control over the movements Of the
German, Italian and japanese ma
tionals living here, it will, at the
same time, provide such persons
with a quick and simple method Of
identifying themselves. In that
respect, the certificates will not be
unlike our automobile driving
licenses, which we show when we
get into a jam with the traffic
police or other drivers. In this
period of wartime, when the alien
of enemy nationality is obliged to
abide by a number of special rules
and regulations, he frequently runs
the risk Of getting into Jams" If
he is innocent of wrongdoing, the
certificate of Identification may
easily help to clear him, quickly and
with a minimum of inconvenience to
himself and the authorities. As At
torney General Biddle has stated,
THE objective OF the Department
of Justice in issuing Identification
certificates to aliens Of enemy ma
tionalities is the dual one Of
strengthening our internal safety
and protecting the loyal alien, even
if he has become technically an
alien enemy"
Speedier Than In Last War.
Let me point out this. In the
last World War, the United States
did not even launch a registration
program for German aliens until
eight months after we entered the
war. The belief Is not without
foundation that at least some Of the
harsh treatment of so-called allen
enemies" which we remember re-
suited from this apparent lack Of
precaution and control. This time,
not only do we have complete
registration of all aliens, but within
three months after our involvement
in the wer we will have certificates
of identification in the hands of all
aliens of enemy nationalities. That
will make for order and greater
protection all around.
Some may ask: How does the
identification program differ from
the alien registration Of 1910? There
are many important differences. The
most outstanding one, Of course. is
that the Identification program ap-
plies only to aliens Of enemy ma
tionalities-Germans, Italians and
Japanese whereas the alien regis
tration program applied to all aliens,
regardless of nationality. The 1910
registrant received a receipt card
as evidence that he had complied
with that law, but he was not re-
quired to carry it, whereas the per-
son to whom a certificate of identifi-
cation is issued must carry it with
him at all times. The alien regis
tration program served the useful
purpose of providing our Govern
ment, for the first time, with basic
general information about all of its
aliens, when and how they came
here, how long they expected to
stay. The present Identification