The times., 1899-03-29
ISSUANCE OF PASSPORTS.
The state Department May Adopt
Greater Uniformity.


1t has been represented to the State De-
partment that a greater uniformity than
now prevails is desirable in the treatment
OF applications for passports from persons
VINO aii,g Sc american citizenship. and who
have been absent from the United States
Tor a prolonged period and are unable or
refuse to give a definite promise OF re-
turn.
This Government does not discriminate
between native born and naturaliled cit
izens In according them protection while
tney are abroad. Secretary Hay says.
equality OF treatment being required by
the laws of the United States But in de-
termining the question of conservation OF
American citizenship and the right to re-
ceive passport. 1t Is only reasonable. the
Secretary says, to take into account the
purpose for which the citizenship is OBJ
tained.
A naturalized citizen who returns to the
country Of his origin and there resides
without any tangible manifestation OF an
intention to return to the United States
may, therefore. generally be assumed to
nave lost the right to receive the pro-
! lection of the United States His nat
uralization. the Secretary continues. can
not be used as cloak to protect him from
obligations to the country of his origin
/ while he performs none of the duties OF
citizenship to the country which natural-
| lied him
condition precedent to the granting OF
passport is. under the law and rules pre-
scribed by authority OF the law, that the
citizenship OF the applicant and his dom
icile in the United States and intention 10
return to 1t with the purpose OF residing
and performing the duties OF citizenship
shall be satisfactorily established. One
who has expatriated himself cannot. there
lore, receive Il passport
Expatriation has been defined by Mr.
Hamilton Fish as the quitting OF ones
country. with an abandonment of aIlegi-
ance and with the view of becoming per-
| manently resident and citizen of some
other country, resulting IN the loss of the
party pre-existing character of Citizen
ship. Thus, person may reside abroad
for purposes of health. of education. OF
| amusement, OF business for an Indefinite
period; he may acquire a commercial or
civil domiciie there. but if he do so sin
eerely and bona fide amino reverend. and
do nothing inconsistent with his pre-ex-
isting allegiance. he will not thereby hays
taken any step toward self -expatriatiou
But If. instead of this. he permanently
withdraws himself and his property and
places both where neither can be made
to contribute TO the national necessities.
acquires political domicile in a foreign
country, and avows his purpose not to re-
turn. he has placed himself in the posi-
ton where his country has the right to
presume that he has made his election of
expatriation.
American citizens resident in a semi
Darbarcus country or in a country In
which the United States exercises extra
territorial jurisdiction may indefinitely
proiong their residence. since obviously
they cannot become subjects OF the native
Government without grave peril to their
safety. The departments position with
respect to these citizens has uniformly
been TO afford them the protection of a
passport SO long as their pursuits are
iesitinate and not prejudicial to the
friendly relations of this Government
with the Government within whose limits
they are residing. and the department has
even held that persons who are members
OF a distinctly American community in
turkey and avail themselves of the extra
territorial rights given by Turkey to such
communities may inherit their rights as
American citizens. and that section 1895
OF the Revised Statutes of the United
states. which provides that the rights
OF citizenship shall not .escend to chill
dren whose fathers never resided in the
United States" is not applicable. such de-
scendants being regarded. through the,
inherited extraterritorial rights recognized
oy Turkey herself as born and continuing
In the Jurisdiction of the United States.