Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-04-04
NEW PASSPORT RULES
Warnings Issued by State Depart
ment to Holders.
Means of Preventing FOreign-BOrn
American Citizens from Rum
ming Into Danger While VS.
iting Their Native Lands.

ting TnelF Ndtltc Ldnubs
The state department has just
adopted new policy in issuing pass
ports to American citizens of foreign
birth, which is designed to prevent
some of the arrests of those who here
after return to the country of their
origin, reports the Washington Star.
Heretofore it has been the practice
to grant passports to all Americans
who proved their citizenship and allow
hem to go wherever they chose, with
out any warning as to the risks they
might run, but, according to the Off
cial explanation of the innovation 1T
has been found that many people or
foreign birth suppose that the mere
acquisition of American citizenship
and the security of an American pass
port render them immune from the
operation of the laws or regulations
of the country of which they were for
merly subjects or citiztes, if they re-
turn. Such, however, is very far from
being the case. In all countries per-
son who secures naturalization in an
other country is still liable to punish
ment on his return for an offense COM
mitted before his emigration, and in
some countries emigration and nat
uralization without permission are
themselves offenses.
The state department has taken q
simple way of preventing Americans
from unwittingly running into danger
by preparing a series of notices which
it now sends with all passports to APP
plicants of foreign birth. 1t is brief,
and tells him in words thk anyone
can comprehend just what the laws
and regulations that may affect him
aEe. AS the notices relate to the pol
icy of foreign countries, they are not
ofhcial, but they are believed to be cor
rect, and have been compiled in the
department, after consultation with
American ministers abroad.
In announcing this important
change in it's practice the department
declares that no departure is intended
from the attitude of dissent OF this
government from the policy of certain
foreign governments in their treat
ment of their former subjects and cit
liens, and the department has, from
abundance of caution, so instructed
American diplomatic agents abroad.
The new plan is almost identical with
| A.l,s al e
fected by It are natives of Germany,
Russia. France, Austria and Turkey,
although all foreign-born American
citizens are more or less Interested
except former British subjects, outside
of native Indians, Chinese and Japan
csc. to whom passports cabnot be is
sued. AS indicating the scope Of the
policy, the following extracts are
made from the notice to American
citizens formerly subjects of Germany
who contemplate returning to that
country"
"A German who emigrates before
he is II years old, or before he has
been actually called upon to appear
before the military authorities, may
after a residence in the United States
of five years and after due natural
izatiop, return to Germany on visit,
but his right to remain in his for
mer home is denied by Germany, and
he may be expelled after brief So
iourn, on the ground that he left
Germany merely to evade military
service. 1t is not safe for a person
whs has once been expelled to re-
turn to Germany without obtaining
permission to do so in advance. n
person who has completed his mill
tary service and has reached his thir-
ty-first year and become an American
citizen may safely return to Ger
many.
1.-THE treaties between the United
States and the German states pro-
vide that German subjects who have
become citizens of the United States
shall be recognized as such upon their
return to Germany if they resided in
the United States five years. But a
naturalized American of German birth
! is liable to trial and punishment upon
return to Germany for an otfense
against German law committed before
emigration, saving always the liml-
tations of the laws of Germany.
If he emigrated while in service or
, while on leave of absence for linz
tied time; if, having an unlimited
, leave or being in the reserve, he
/ emigrated after receiving call into
: service, or after a public proclama-
L. ton requiring his appearance or aft
, err war broke out, he is liable TO pun
ishment on return.
"Alsace-Lorraine having become a
part of Germany since our natural
;zation treaties with the other Ger
man states were negotiated, Amer
lean citizens, natives of that prov
ince. under existing circumstances
NAV be subjected to inconvenience
and possible detention by the Ger
, man authorities if they return with
/ out having sought and obtained per-
Z mission to do so from the imperial
j government at Strasburg.
: "a Frenchman naturalized abroad
| without the consent of his govern
] ment. and who at the time of his nat
; uralization was still subject to mill
= tarv service in the active army or in
{ the reserve of the active army, is
:. held TO be amenable to the French
s military laws. Not hf[ng responded
r TO the notice calling him to accom-
nlish his military service, he is
placed on the list of those charged
with noncompliance with the mill
| -, - 20 ba raturns IN France