DENIAL OF U.S. PASSPORT

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27795, 21 October 1955, Page 13

DENIAL OF U.S. PASSPORT

Americans “Prisoners On Probation”

(Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 19. From his present home in Switzerland, Charles Chaplin, the famous British film comedian and producer, otday sent a message to friends in New York saying that every American now was “a prisoner on probation with a chain around his leg” and could be imprisoned any time he might disagree with the policy-makers in office. Mr Chaplin, who sold up all his United States interests when informed that he would not be permitted to reenter the United States, where he had lived for 40 years, sent the message to sponsors of an exhibition of the work of the artist, Rockwell Kent. The sponsors said the exhibition, Mr Kent’s first in 14 years, was to raise funds to enable him to fight for a passport, refused by the State Department since 1951. “The natural right of every free man to travel is being violated more and more by the unscrupulous withholding of passports,’ ’ Mr Chaplin said in his message. “This situation is most alarming. For every American today, whether he knows it or not, is a prisoner on probation with, a chain around his leg to be drawn in by a gaoler at any time he may disagree with the political policy-makers who are in temporary power. And who knows that what we agree about today, we may disagree about tomorrow. "Such international artists as Paul Robeson and Rockwell Kent, whose art is a credit to America and who have enriched understanding between America and Europe, are chained by this vicious and dangerous policy. To deny the right to travel to Americans held in such general respect abroad, is stupid and inhuman. It destroys American prestige and creates doubt and suspicion in the countries whose friendship America most needs. "This is not a plea alone for American artists in chains, but for every American over whose fundamental freedom this menacing shadow is creeping. The violati<\n of the right to travel affects every aspect of American democracy and freedom. That is why nothing can be of greater importance than this effort by the emergency Civil Liberties Committee.” Mr Kent is trying to obtain a passport to paint abroad. The State Department refused the passport for "travel anywhere for any purpose.”