PASSPORTS ISSUED OVERSEAS Certain diplomatic and consular posts began using legend machines on March 29, 1930. Other posts continued with rubberstamped legends until October 1958 when the Department, both for security purposes and worldwide passport document uniformity, made the use of legend machines mandatory. Passports issued by consular offices abroad are different from those issued in the United States. At most U.S. Embassies and consulates, the legend and the seal impressions are two operations. The legend does not indicate the location of the issuing office, merely that the passport was issued by the Foreign Service of the United States. An endorsement containing the place of issuance and the signature of the consular officer is included on page 4 of the passport. This endorsement is covered by the reverse of the seal which is impressed on the photograph. Chapter IV NO-FEE PASSPORT A NO-FEE PASSPORT, according to the Department of State's interpretation, exempts certain categories of people from payment of the prescribed passport fee. Special/official and diplomatic passports are the most common types of no-fee passports. Other no-fee passports have been issued over the years as the need arose. Special/Official Passport A special passport was a document issued to "prominent officials of the United States about to visit foreign countries on public business." 1 The special passport differed from the ordinary passport in that it usually described the official rank or occupation of the holder and often the purpose of his traveling abroad while generally omitting a description of his person. This document was probably issued from the beginning of the government under the Constitution.2 One of the earliest recorded special passports issued in Washington, D.C., was dated March 27, 1819, and signed by John Quincy Adams, the Secretary of State. This passport was issued to John Henry Purviance, bearer of public despatches: 1 Gaillard Hunt, "The American Passport," extract from the American Journal of International Law, vol. 6, 1912, p. 125. 2 Gaillard Hunt, The American Passport, U.S. Government Printing Office, Wash., D.C., 1898, p. 8. UNITED STATES To all whom these Presents Shall come, Greeting: The Bearer hereof, John Henry Purviance, charged with Public Despatches to the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at Madrid upon the voyage-These are therefore to request all whom it may concern to permit the said John H. Purviance, to pass, without let or Molestation, in going, staying or returning; and to give to him all friendly aid and protection, as these United States would do in like cases. Given, etc., March 27, 1819. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.3 Up until World War I (1914-1918), the special passport remained the same regardless of whether diplomatic status was accorded to the individual. (Exhibits 50 and 51) This category included the type of passport later universally recognized as the passeport diplomatique, and also the type of passport later issued only to persons traveling on official although not diplomatic government business. Occasionally another document, issued by the Department of State until World War I (1914-1918), was treated as a special passport though it did not carry the same force or effect. This document was frequently issued to persons who were not U.S. citizens, mainly to foreign diplomatic representatives and members of their families about to travel abroad and, on occasion, to permit them to travel in the United States.4 No fee was charged for a special passport until May 1, 1897, when, on that date, Secretary of State John Sherman decided that the special passport was the same as the "citizen" (regular) passport 5 and that the $1 passport fee applied to both. The fee was abolished in 1918 with the introduction of the new form of special passport. With the large number of officials traveling abroad on government business during World War I (1914-1918), more special passports were issued. As a result, in 1918, the Department began issuing without a fee a new form of special passport to government officials and other persons (clerks of Embassies, Legations, consulates, and consulates general) traveling on official missions but without diplomatic status. (Exhibit 52) Family members of these government personnel also received special passports. The 1918 special passport, valid for 1 year from date of issue, 3 Ibid. 4 Ibid., p. 7. 5 Gaillard Hunt, "The American Passport," extract from the American Journal of International Law, vol. 6, 1912, p. 124. 6 Act of Mar. 23, 1888. To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: Know ye, That the bearer hereef, Mr.A.S. Solemons, pas been appointed. Expresentative of the United Ilates to the conference of the X cd Cross Associ- to permit These are therefore to request all whom it may concern him... to pass peely, without let or molestation, and to extend to him all suck piendly aid and protection as would be extended to like officers of Foreign Governments resorting to the United States. Yn testimony whereot, I, Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, Secretary of State of the United States of America, have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of this Department to be affixed at Washington, this 256, 4 July day A. D. 1884, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and ninth Exhibit 50. Special passport issued to a private citizen traveling on behalf of the U.S. Government to attend a conference of the Red Cross, 1884 |