The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-17
HER NATIONALITY IN DOUBT.
AN APPEAL TO THE SECRETARY OF
= STATE By A SAVANNAH MAN.

His Aid Sought by Residents of Cubs
to Establish Their Claims to Amer
lean CitixenSbip-A Young Woman
Rorn in New Orleans. Is "a Spaniarl
So Long as She Resides i'm Cuba.
VIII BE an American by Returning
to the States.
A striking illustration of the difficulty
which will ensue in the Identification of
American citizens residing in Cuba who
may hope to gain any recognition from the
United states government under the pro-
visions of the heralded message of Presi-
dent Mckinley urging that something be
done for the relief of Americans on the IN
happy island, presents itself in the case
which has been brought to the considera-
ton of the Secretary of State by Senior
bartholomew Santa Rosa of this city.
1t is believed that the message Of the
President will be sent to congress to-day.
In the dispatches printed in the Morning
News yesterday from Washington it is
stated that one of the features of the mes
sage will be the recommendation by the
President that congress take some step
at once to relieve Americans from the suf-
fering which now seems to be general and
widespread on the island. He win urge
that all American citizens on the island
who wish to return to this country shall
be brought here. even if the government
has to be put to the expense Of transpor-
tation. The President viii further urge
that those who cannot come to this coun-
try, or who may prefer to remain in Cuba
Al. ,asa g
lack of which is now causing them woeful
deprivation.
With such a crisis to be met by the
United States government, and with the
expressions from the President that it
should be met, the question as to who will
be considered American citizens presents
itself.
Senior Bartholomew Santa Rosa, who re-
Gently came to Savannah and established
a cigar factory at the corner of South
Broad and jefferson streets was in Hav-
ana recently and was called upon to rem
Ser assistance in settling the question of
the nationality of persons who were born
In the United States but who have been
residing in Cuba for a number of years
without ever taking out naturalization pa
pers there or claiming themselves subjects
of the Spanish government. They want to
be Americans, but are in a dilemma as to
whether they can be subjects of this gov
eminent so long as they reside in Cuba.
One case In particular, and the most in
teresting of all that were presented TO
benor Santa Rosa, because of its many
complications, is that of a young lady who
was born in New Orleans of Spanish pa
hoe Gin
she was years old. She has. always claim
ed citizenship with this country and has
never sought to procure naturalization pa
pers under the Spanish government, il
indeed, there be any system of this kind
TO establish citizenship in Cuba when 1t
relates TO women.
The young lady, through the aid of San
ia Rosa, took her case to the vice consul
in Havana, who informed her that under
the conditions she must regard herself as
a subject of Spain. Not satisfied with this
decision, the case was taken up with the
department of state at Washington by a
letter from Senior Santa Rosa, who en-
closed the certificate of birth, which es-
tablishes the fact that the young woman
was born in New Orleans.
The reply to the letter was received by
Senior Santa Rosa yesterday, signed by
Judge William r. Day, Assistant Secre-
tary of State, and his decision is of par
is on the eve of enaeting laws for the re-
lief of American citizens in Cuba. Judge
Day states that in this case the young
woman, according to our law, became a
citizen of the United States by her birth
In this country. 1t is understood that,
according to Spanish law, she also inher-
lted Spanish nationality by virtue of her
pareutage. her father and mother both
having been Spaniards. 1T Is generally
held says Judge Day, that persons so
situated should, upon reaching majority,
Or within a reasonable length of time
thereafter, make an election of nationali-
~. Election of United States nationality
n such cases Is most obviously made by
coming to this country to reside and per-
form the duties of citizenship.
1t does not appear whether or not the
young lady in question expressed any in
tention of coming to the United States to
reside, at the time she applied TO the vice
consul general at Havana. AS there is
no statement in your letter of any such
intention or desire on her part. It is in
ferred that she does not intend to come
20 the United States If she desires now
20 come to this country to reside. pass
port as an American citizen will be grant
ed her by the consul general upon her
complying with the usual requirements.
IT, on the other hand. she continues to
reside in Cuba, she will be deemed to have
elected Spanish nationality"
Here Is a world OF complications, and II
IS safe to say there are hundreds of SINH
lar cases in Cuba. The department OF
state decides that II the party under men
, ton continues to reside IN Cuba she will
per force be a Spanish subject. and yet
this is the thing least wished for She
cannot come to America for the reason
that her family is in destitute condition.
and cannot afford TO defray the expense
of travel. She wants TO be a subject of
the United States and yet she cannot be-
under the decision Of the Secretary OF
State, unless she comes. TO this country 10
reside.
can LINES, CONSOLIDATION.