Evening star., 1898-10-21
RESULT OF THE TRANSFER
Question of the Citizenship of the Porto
Ricans Involved.
What the United states Has Done in
the Case of Other Acquired
Territory.
Written fer The Evening Star.

Written fer The Evening Star.
The recent formal transfer of the SOW
ereignty of the Island of Porto Rico to the
United States gives interest to the question
Of the legal status of the people of the
island.
The status of the inhabitants of territory
acquitted by conquest cession is gencr-
ally fixed by the terms of the treaty of
cessiop. The general principle is that.
less the treaty of cession provides other
wise, the allegiance of the inhabitants of
the territory ceded is transferred with the
territory. This somewhat harsh rule is
almost invariably in modern times mod-
fed by provision in the treaty of cession
allowing the inhabitants to retain their
former nationality If so minded upon COM
pliance with certain specified conditions.
In former times the inhabitants of con-
queTed territory were required, in order to
retain their former nationality, to remove
from the annexed territory and dispose of
their real property, generally within liked
time. If they failed to comply with these
conditions. they were deemed to be sub
iccts Of the conGueror Germany dealt
more lberaIly with the inhabitants of AL
sace-Lorraine at the close of the Franco
Prussian war. the treaty of Frankfort al
lowing those who desired to retain their
French nationality to retain their prop
erty. though they were compelled to emf
CRATE from the territory.
United States is Liberal.
As might be expected. the practice of the
United States in dealing with the people of
conquered or ceded territory has been more
humane and liberal than tia: of other ma
tiOns
By the Jay treaty of 1874 it was provided
that British subjects residing at Detroit at
the time of the evacuation of the territory
of Michigan should continue to enjoy, un-
molested. all their property, of every kind,
and should be at liberty to remain there. or
to remove with any or all of their effects;
that ii should be free to them to sell their
lands houses or effects or to retain the
property thereof, at their discretion; that
such of them as should continue to reside
there should not be compelled to become
citizens of the United States, or to take any
path OF allegiance to the government there
of; but that they should be a full liberty to
do SO If they thought proper. and should
make and declare their election within one
year after the evacuation 1t was further
provided that all persons who should con-
tinue there after the expiration of the said
year, without having declared their fnten-
ton of remaining British subjects, should
be considered as having elected to become
citizens of the United States.
The Louisiana Purchase.
In the treaty of 1903, under which Louisi-
ana was acquired from France it was
stipulated that the inhabitants of the ceded
territory should be Incorporated in the
Union of the United States and admitted as
soon as possible. according to the principles
of the federal Constitution to the enjoy
ment of all the rights. advantages and i'm
nlunities of citizens of the United States.
and that in the meantime they should be
protected in the free enjoyment of their
liberty. property and religion.
The treaty of 1919. with Spain ceding
Florida to the United States. contained a
provision permitting those who desired to
remove TO Spanish dominions to sell or ex-
port their effects. A provision allowing
them to become American citizens. similar
TO that in the French treaty Of 1903, was
also Incorporated in the treaty.
The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo allowed
Mexicans established in the territories ced-
cd to the United States to continue to re-
side there, retaining the property which
they possessed there, or to remove to the
Mexican republic. they saw fit. Those
who preferred to remain in said territories
were allowed either TO retain the title and
rights of Mexican citizens. or acquire those
of citizens of the United States. The
treaty, however. required them to make
their election within year from the
date of the ratification of the treaty. and
provided that those who should remain in
the said territories after the expiration of
that year, without having declared their in
tention to retain the character of Mexicans
should be considered to have elected to be-
come citizens of the United States
Case Of Alaska.
And in our last previous ACQUISITION of
territory. the treaty of 1867, with Russia
gave the inhabitants of Alaska the priv
lege Of reservng their Russian allegiance
and returning to Russia within three wears
1t was stipulated that those remaining
there with the exception of uncivillzed ma
tive tribes should be admitted to the en-
Joyment of all the rights, advantages and
lmmuntties of citizens Of the United
States.
The same liberal policy which has charac-
terized the dealing of this government with
the people of territory heretofore acquired
by the United States will undoubtedly OH
tain with our latest acquisitions.