Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-01-24
CITIZENSHIP
In the United States and the Privi-
lege 1t Carries With 1t In Turkey.
More Powerful Than Citizenship
In Any European Country.

Washington, January 23.-The pres
dent to-day sent 10 the Senate a reply
to the Senate resolution relative TO the
rights of the United States citizens Of
Armenian birth who are allowed to Wis
it Turkey and passports are recognized.
In letter to the President the Secretary
Of State says that the papers Of recent
years show tha. the Turkish govern
ment claims the right to exclude from
the Ottoman territory such BaturaIized
citizens. The right is claimed as a
prer0gative of sovereignty. It's en-
fOrcement has no. been opposed nor
has remonstrance been made save in
case Of arrest or punitive proceedings
on ground of their kav.ng become cit
iZens of the United States without I'm
perial permission. Passports of such
people are recognized but the recogni-
ton does not prevent the exercise Of the
right of exclusion or expulsion. The
Secretary say S that although no treaty
of naturalization exists between the
United States and Turkey regulating
this point, no instance has yet been
pressed by the Turkish Government in
assertion of a right TO treat the indi-
vidual as a Turkish subject or to punish
him for The alleged offense of becoming
a citizen of fore gn State without per
mission.
The second branch Of the Senate -
quiry asked whether families Of natur-
al.zed citizens are permitted to leave
Turkey and come to the United States,
and upon this point the Secretary says
that the naturalization laws cannot
operate by indirectiOn or by executive
Interpretation to make a citizen of
person who has never been within the
jurisdiction of the United States.
The Turkish government has on sew
eral occasions permitted the emigration
of such families but 1t has also asserted
discretionary power in the premises and
refused such emigration. Good Off
ces of the United States minister have
been exeTted on all proper occasions to
assist the emigration of such persons.
The resolution further inquiries
whether naturalized citizens of the
United States of Armenian birth have
l4lt SAME IL li-o anu p4bNNAltNll i'i 'ti--'
country as have nauraIzed citizens Of
Great Britain. France, G. rmany or
Russia. As to this the secretary says
the privilege claimed by the govern
ment of lhe United States for such citi-
zans by naturalization. in the country
of origin, IS greater than that claim d
by any one of the four governments
named. A very general rule among
governments Of the European continent
and one which obtains in principle with
respect to Great Britain also, is that no
alien may be admitted to become
citizen of the State by naturalization
except upon production Of proof that
his change of allegiance is permitted by
the sovereign of whom h is already a
dependent. Great Britain mOdifies this
rule somewhat and is more liberal than
other governments. An endorsement
in the language Of the naturalization
act is made upon al British passports
issued TO aliens 10 the following effect:
This passport IS granted with the quail
i6catjon that the bearer shall not when
within the limits of the foreign state Of
which he was subject previously to
obtaining his certificate Of naturaiiza-
sion he deemed a British subject un-
less he has ceased 70 be subject OF
that state in pursuance Of the laws
thereof. or in pursuance OF a treaty 10
that effect