Bon Voyage -- Maybe

Europe was again an oyster (of sorts) for U.S. tourists to open. The Department of State last week lifted the ban which had restricted European travel almost entirely to Government officials and businessmen since war's end.

But there was still a big "if" to European travel. Tourist applications for passports had to be accompanied by a statement "showing that [the applicant] has fixed return transportation [and] reserved hotel or other accommodations to take care of his food and lodging while abroad."

This meant that some 70,000 Americans could go to Europe this year (prewar high: 260,000). Planes and ships would have room for no more than that, even though at least eight more liners would soon return to service.

Once over the transportation barrier, tourists would run into other troubles. They could not go to Russia, Rumania, Bulgaria or Hungary. Elsewhere in Europe, food and hotel rooms were none too plentiful, many a currency was so unstable as to make the value of U.S. dollars unpredictable. Best travel bets: the British Isles, Switzerland, Scandinavia, France, the Low Countries.

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