The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-01-30
FROM THE NATIONS CAPITAL
THE PRESIDENT SENDS TO THE
SENATE ARMENIAN INFOR-
=. NATION DESIRED.
THE PORTE CLAIMS RIGHT TO EXPEL.
Native Armenians Naturalized in the
United States-The House Foreign
Affairs Committee Touches Up
England on the Armenian
Massacres.

Washington, Jan. 23.-The president to-
day sent to the senate a reply to the SEN
ate resolution relative to the rights of
Tthe United States citizens of Armenian
birth which were allowed to visit Turkey,
and passports are recognized. In letter
to the president the secretary of state
says that the papers of recent years show
that the Turkish government claims the
right to exclude from the Ottoman terri
tory such naturalized citizens. The right
is claimed as a prerogative of sovereignty.
Its enforcement has not been opposed
r. ~Or has remonstrance been made except
n case of arrest or punitive proceedings
on grounds of their having become citi-
zens of the United States without impe-
rial permission. Passports of such people
are recognized, but the recognition does
not prevent the exercise of the right of
exclusion or expulsion. The secretary
says that although no treaty of naturali-
cation exists between the United States
and Turkey regulating this point, no in
stance has yet been pressed by the Turk
ish government in assertion of right
10 treat the individual as Turkish sub
ject or to punish him for the alleged Of
Tense of becoming citizen of foreign
state without permission.
The second branch of the senate inquiry
asked whether families of naturaliZed cit
liens are permitted to leave Turkey and
come to the United States, and upon this
point the secretary says that the natural
ization law cannot operate by indirectiOn
or by executive Interpretation to make
citizen of person who has been within
the jurisdiction of the United States.
The Turkish government has on several
occasions permitted the emigration of
such families, but it has also asserted
discretionary powers in the premises and
refused such emigration. Good offices of
the United States minister have formally
been eXerted on all proper occasions to
assist the emigration of such persons.
The resolution further inquiries whether
such naturalized citizens of Armenian
birth have the same rights and prOtec-
lion in that country as have naturalized
citizens of France, Great Britain, Ger
many or Russia. AS to this the secretary
says the privilege claimed by the govern
ment of the United States for such cit
liens by naturalization in the country
of origin is greater than that claimed by
any one of the four governments of the
European continent. A very general rule
among European governments, and one
which obtains in principle in Great Brit
ain also, is no alien may be admitted to
become citizen of the state by nautrali-
cation except upon the production of
proof that his change of allegiance is per-
mitted by the sovereign of whom he is
already dependent. Great Britain modi-
fies this rule somewhat, and it is more
liberal than other governments. An in
dorsement of the language of the NATURAL
ization is made upon all British passports
issued to aliens to the following effect:
This passport is granted with the quail
fication that the bearer shall not, when
within the limits of the foreign state of
which he was subject previously to OBJ
tanning his certificate of naturalization,
be deemed British subject unless he has
ceased to be u subject of the state in
pursuance of the laws thereof, or in pur-
Sllancp of trpaty tO that effect