TH

GENERAL INFORMATION

HE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM

a report made by a Congressional committee upon its return from Central and South America:

"Tourists who assume an air of arrogance or who transcend the common bounds of decency in human conduct can do more in the course of an hour to break down elements of friendly approach between peoples than the Government can do in the course of a year in trying to stimulate friendly relations. As we act so are we judged, words to the contrary notwithstanding, and it is fervently to be hoped that our citizen travelers will have a growing appreciation of this fact and deport themselves in a manner befitting their station and training.'

Passport applications for persons subject to the draft

Persons proceeding abroad who are of the draft age should keep their local boards advised of their whereabouts.

countries

The Department of State has always considered that it is improper for American citizens to interfere in the political affairs of foreign countries and in general has taken such action as ground for refusing passport and registration facilities to them or extending protection to them. Par ticular attention is called to the fact that under section 401 of the Nationality Act of 1940 American citizens lose their nationality by voting in a political election in a foreign state; by accepting or performing the duties of an office, post, or employment under the government, of a foreign state or political subdivision thereof for which only nationals of such state are eligible; or by taking an oath or making an affirmation or other formal declaration of allegiance to a foreign state.

Signature

The signature of the person to whom a passport is issued should be affixed in

the places indicated therein immediately upon its receipt.

The passport is not valid unless it has been signed. The bearer should also fill in the blank spaces on the inside cover of the passport.

Loss, destruction, mutilation, or alteration of passport

A passport, whether valid or expired, is an important document. It should not be allowed to pass into the possession of an unauthorized person. The mutilation or alteration in any way of an unexpired passport may render it invalid and subject the person to whom it was issued not only to inconvenience but also to possible prosecution under the law.

The loss or destruction of a valid passport should be reported immediately to the Passport Division, Department of State, Washington 25, D. Ĉ., or to the nearest American consular officer.

The application for a new passport to replace a valid passport which it is alleged has been lost, destroyed, or mutilated

must be accompanied by a detailed statement, in the form of an affidavit, of the circumstances under which the passport is alleged to have been lost, destroyed, or mutilated.

As a rule, new passports can be issued in cases referred to in the paragraph above only after an exhaustive inquiry.

Amendment of passport

Passports may be amended to include or to exclude the American wife and American minor children of the person to whom issued, upon the written request of the bearer. The passport agents in Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco have authority to amend passports. Passports may also be amended by American consular officers and, in the absence thereof, by American diplomatic officers; and they may be amended by the chief executive officers of the outlying possessions of the United States.

Regulations of foreign governments

Passport and other travel regulations of foreign countries vary and are subject to changes. They also vary with respect to the outlying dominions, colonies, mandated territories, or dependencies of foreign countries. For authentic information regarding such regulations, inquiry should be made, before leaving the United States, of the diplomatic or consular representatives of the countries to be visited with reference to the following subjects: visas; import and export regulations; regulations pertaining to the carrying of personal arms and ammunition; baggage; photography; tax; travel; residence; health; vaccination; and employment regulations.

Regulations of foreign countries pertaining to money and other valuables

These regulations may require that travelers' money be carried in checks or bank drafts which would facilitate the taking out of funds upon departure from

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