The evening times., 1899-02-02
AMERICANS IN ENGLAND.
Consul HnIstead Defines Their Priv
iIeges Under the Present Laws.

The status of American citizens in Eng
land is a topic of general interest and is
quite deliberately treated by Consul Mar
shall Halstead, of Birmingham. in a COM
munication to the Department of State.
Consul Halstead, in introducing the sub
ject, says: Americans establishing agen-
cies and living here have at times asked
me what rights, as aliens, they have under
English law. In response to my request,
F. NJ. Burton. my vice consul. who is an
English solicitor, has prepared the follow
ing statement on the matter:
An American citizen, whether naturalzcd or
not, may reside in England and enjoy almost
equal privileges with British-born subject, the
policy OF England being to encourage foreigners
10 settle here for the purposes of trade. we'll
rs to afford them safe asylum in times Of
trouble.
All persons who are not subjects Of the Crown
called aliens. and the laws affecting them
were formerly very harsh. They could hold lands
neither by purchase nor descent; they could not
take seat in Parliament or hold Office under the
state; and bv an act passed in the reign of
James /, it was laid down that ''all such as are
TO he naturalized restored in blood shall first
receive the Sacrament Of the Lords Supper and
the oath of allegiance and the oath of suprem-
acy." They were also subject to taxation, from
which British subjects We're exempt. This, how
ever, has all been done away with. and the disa-
bilities Of an alien now very few. Ii he be
moved. Should war break ont between England
and the state to which an alien belongs. he would
be permitted to continue his residence in Eng
land so long he conducted himself peaceaby
The laws affecting aliens were settled under ths.
naturalization act, 1870, and subsequent statutes,
which enacted that
Real and personal property of every drscrip-
tion may be taken and acquired. held and dis
posed OF by an alien in the same manner in all
respects as by natural born British subject ::
provided that this shall not confer any right on
an alien TO hold real property situate out of the
United Kingdom, shall il qualify an alien for
any Office, or any municipal, parliamentary, or
other franchise"
An American. therefore, may still remain Il citi-
of the United States and live and carry on
business i'll England. lie has the right to acquire
property, and to sue and be sued; and he is liable
to the bankruptcy laws in the manner as Il
British subject.
An alien becoming naturalized under the above
mentioned act has all political and other rights,
powers, and privileges and is subject to all obi
cations OF a natural-born British subject in the
United Kingdom, with the qualification that he
shall not, when within the limits of foreign
state, of which he u subject before being nat
uralized, be deemed a British subject, unless he
has ceased to be a subject of that state in pur-
suance of the laws thereof, in pursuance of a
treaty to that effect.
Naturalization is usually obtained by certificate
of the home secretary, which is granted on APP
plication, subject to the following conditions. viz
Residence in the United Kingdom or service
preceding eight years.
A memorial to the home secretary, with required
particulars.
Statutory declaration verifying the memorial.
Declaration by four British subjects vouching
for loyalty .and verifying memorial.
An oath of allegiance.
Under the United States regulations Convention
with Great Britain May 15. 1870, naturalized sub
jects of either country recognized as SUCH and
citizens of either country renewing their residence
in those countries may be readmitted to the char
acter and privileges of citizenship. on such terms
as the respective governments may think fit.