BOSTON, Dec. 3. —Because of the rigid enforcement of the Enemy Alien Act the Boston Symphony Orchestra may be disbanded for the duration of the war.

Twenty-three members out of a personnel of 101 players of the orchestra are without citizenship papers, it is stated. The District of Columbia permits no alien enemies within its borders, and the police authorities of several cities have refused to grant permits for the scheduled concerts of Major Higginson’s orchestra.

On account of these conditions and reported hostility toward Dr. Karl Muck in other quarters it is thought that the members of the orchestra will soon be released from their contracts.

Under the terms of the Trading with the Enemy Act no German “may continue to do business in the United States,” and it is believed that this clause alone requires that the orchestra and similar organizations immediately eliminate enemy alien members. Even were the symphony to remain intact it would be perhaps impossible for the organization to fill its engagements in other cities, as it cannot appear outside the State with its German conductor, Dr. Muck.

The disbandment will fulfill the prediction made exclusively in MUSICAL AMERICA some months ago. At the time the story was vigorously denied in certain quarters, but it now appears that the report had secure foundation. Official notice of the disbandment is awaited momentarily. The Department of Justice regulations just issued prohibit enemy aliens from leaving the State.

This ruling affects all orchestras with alien membership. The Philadelphia Orchestra has met the situation by dispensing with the services of eight German musicians who possessed only their first papers.

The Musicians’ Mutual Protection Union has ordered every member on its roster to declare his status.