U.S. Stops Issuing Visas to Refugees in Paris; Preoccupied with Stranded Americans

The American Consulate today practically discontinued issuance of immigration visas to refugee applicants while the number of refugees and other aliens registering as volunteers for the French Army mounted to such proportions that the recruiting offices begged some of the applicants to return in three or four days.

At the American Consulate it was explained that discontinuance of visas stemmed from the fact that under the present circumstances the Consulate was chiefly interested in having American citizens secure places on steamers to the United States. It was emphasized to this correspondent at the Consulate that women and children will be the first aided by the consular authorities to return to America. Next will come American males and only when the Consulate is sure that all Americans who want to return to the United States have been enable to do so, will issuance of quota visas be resumed on a normal pre-war basis.

The Consulate estimated that it may take a minimum of two months before all Americans who desire it are back in the United States. Thus, for the next two months there are hardly any chances for immigration visas.

Today’s French newspapers report the rush of alien volunteers to the recruiting offices. Le Matin especially draws attention to the “innumerable aliens who are besieging the recruiting stations as candidates for uniforms.”

Active in organizing Polish Jews in France for defense is the Federation of Polish Jews. The Federation issued a communique announcing that many aged Jews, including a septuagenarian, have put themselves at the Government’s disposal. While other aliens are obliged to purchase gas masks, the French authorities have informed the Federation that Polish Jews in Paris will be given the masks without charge. The Federation is also mobilizing Jewish women for passive defense activities, especially for work in factories where the man power has been mobilized.