The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-24

As Applied to ArmenIans Who Become
Citizens Of the United States.
KNoTTY PROBLEMS INTERPRETED
In a Communication Presented
to Congress.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24-The president
yesterday sent 10 congress AN answer to a
resolution asking Information concerning
the treatment by Turkey of n~aturalized
American citizens OF Armenian birth.
The answer Is in the form OF a lettor from
the secretary OF state to the president, and
Is ms follows.e
To the President: Tho undersigned. secre-
tary OF state. TO whom was addressed "a reso.
luton passed in the senate OF the United states
ON the 10Th INST, directing the secretary OF
state Ito inform the senate, II consistent WITH
the public interests, first. whether naturalized
citizens OF the United states of Armenian birth
are llowed to visit Turkey on bushes or %
visit their families, and whether United STATE,
passports held by them are recognized by tho
Turkish government
's,ecoldiy, whe her the families OF such nat
uralizsd citizens, residing in Turkey, arc per-
Inittei 10 leave tho country and come 20 the
United States; als), whether nattFal4sed Cit
liens Of the United States OF Armenian birth
have the same rights and prot oaion in thas
country az have naturaiized citizens OF Great
Britain. France. Germany or RussiaY" has tho
honor 10 lay before the president the follow
ing report upon the subject matter of the
sforcsaid resolution, 20 the end that the Same
may be transmitted TO the senate Ina answer
sA&~t ~ ANAtAf ~ 1RhR 49, w 80
compatible with the public interests:
In answer TO the first inquiry, the published
correspondence i'm the volumes of the foreign
relations for the past two years, together with
the statements made by the president in his
recent annual message, show that the Turk.
Ssh government claims tho right TO exclude
from the Ottoman territories. or 20 deport in
case they be found therein. neturalizcd citi-
zens OF the United States of armenian birth
who have sscome SUCH naturalized citizens
without imperial consent since the year 1869.
This right is claimed in exercise OF "a preroga.
tive Of sovereignty as an executive measure
I'm regard to aliens whose presence i'm the en-
pire may be deemed prejudical to the public
interest.
Its enforcement I'm regard to such persons
has not been opposed. nor has remonstrance
been male save IN the case OF arrest or puni-
tive proceedings against the parties on the
ground Of their having become citizens OF tho
United states without imperial permission.
United States passports, held by persons so
situated, are recognized by the Turkish au-
thorities ~ evidence of the fact OF naturaliza-
ton and citizenship, but the recognition SO ac-
corded docs not prejudice the exercise of tho
sovereign rights OF exclusion or expulsion for
the causes stated.
The law of Turkey, like that OF Russia and
some other countries, does not recognize un-
permitted change OF allegiance by IA Turkish
subject; but, although no treaty of naturaliza-
ton tAlSts DtbWteu N Onlbtu oltteS anu iuT-
key in the regulation of this point, no Instance
has yet been pressed by the Turkish govern
mcnt In assertion of a right To treat the indi-
vidual As n Turkish subject or to punish him
for the alleged offenso of becoming a citizen Of
. foreign state without permission.
Reply to Second Inquiry.
The second branch OF the senate inquiry
covers two distinct matters. IL IL asked, in the
first place, whether the families of such natur-
allied citizens, residing in Turkey, are per-
united TO leave that country and come to tho
United States. BY the families of such natur-
alized citizens the resolution IL presumed To
mean the wives and minor children. who alone
might, when the jurisdiction of the United
States, be held t~u:acquire citizenship through
the naturalization OF the husband or father.
The naturalization laws of the United States
being obviously framed to permit the be-
stowal of the franchise Of citizenship upon
certain persons OF alien birth who are within
its jurisdiction-and the application OF these
statutes being entrusted TO the judicial branch
lit Is clear that they cannot operate 10 ma
turalize' by indirection or by executive inter
probation n person who is an alien by birth and
origin who has never been within the jurisdic-
tion Of the United States and who at the time
may be dwelling within "a foreign jurisdiction.
The Turkish government has on several oc-
casions permitted the emigration of the wives
and children OF Turkish subjects who had
como 10 INC Onlttu otdtts anu ntrt nc lulrcu
citizenship, leaving their families bcliind
them. 1t has evun permitted the emigration
Of other kinsmon TO a degree not within the
purview OF the naturalization laws of tho
United States. II has also, asserting n discre-
tionary power in the premises, refused TO per
NIT tho emigration OF the families of natural
tied Armenlans, even within the marital or
fl,al degree.
The good Offices Of tho United States minis
Ger are uniformly exerted on all proper oc.
casions to assist the emigration Of such per-
sons, upon permission properly secured from
the Turkish authorities, and when funds have
been assured TO pay the journey he has assisted
their departure. He has likewise assisted the
coming 10 the United States of the wives OF
citizens of Armenian origin, who being in this
country at or subsequent Co the naturaliza-
tion of their husbands, have returned 10
Turkey, and Of the children OF such citizens,
born abroad subsequent 10 the naturalization
Of the father or who may nave accepted
American citizenship by actual presence in
the United States subsequent 10 the fathers
naturalization and IN such instances permits
SIGN for the families to emigrate has been de-
manded as Of light.
These latter Instances, however. are rela-
tively few in number compared with the in
stances in which good offices have been ex.
erted with varying success 10 procure the emi-
grafton from the Turkish domtnions OF the
kindred OF a naturalized Armenian, including
the parents, brothers and sisters, and even
relatives of remoter degree. who could not be-
come citizens of the United States except by
individual naturalization
The resolution farther inquiries "whether
naturnlizcd citizeDs OF tho United States OF
Armenian birth have the same rights aud pro.
tecti W in that country as have naturalized
citizens 81 Great Britain, France, Germany OF
RUSSIA
As 20 this. the privilege claimed by the gov.
eminent OF the United States for such citi.
Gems by naturalization in the country OF or
igin IA greater than that claimed by any one
81 the four governments named. A very gen
erel rule among governments 81 the European
continent. and one which obtains IN principle
with respect 10 Great Britain, als). Is that no
alien may b. admitted O. bccoma n cItizo1 OF
the state by naturalization except upon pro
duction OF proof that his allegiance is per.
mitted by tho sovereign o. whom he Is already
O dnpcrdcna
The United States minister M Constantine
pie has heretofore reported that naturalizal
Armenisns. or other Turkish Subjects OF Great
Britain, France, Germany or Russia. return.
ing 20 the jurisdiction OF Turkey. are not
eislniei By their adopted governments ~
%citizciis. nor rrptccted ~ suni, except upon