Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-30

one of our diplomatic or consular officers
satisfactory evidence" under such rules
and regulations as the Department of
State may prescribe. Secretary Root has
now prescribed them, and they provide
that a naturalized American who has
overstayed the new time limit may retain
his citizenship for the present If he can
prove one Of three extenuating circum-
stances.
The first is that he Is residing abroad
solely as a representative of American
trade and commerce, and that he in
tends eventually to reside permanently
IN the United States. Of course, our
foreign trade would receive a heavy
blow were Mr. Root to hold that citi-
Gems must forfeit their nationality If
they reside abroad from time to time
as agents Of their countrymen.
Proof that he is abroad for his health
or education will be accepted Of nat
uralized American as the second ex-
tenuating circumstance, but, again, in
this case he must declare his intention
to return to the United States. Should
Secretary Straus fall i'll and return to
his native Bavaria, to take the cure at
kissingen, and should he overstay the
new two-year limit. it would be man
ifestly unjust to deprive him of his
American citizenship. just as it would
In the case of one of our naturalized
citizens who might overstay the limit
while attending a foreign university
or studying art in Rome.
The Busted" Also Excepted.
Proof that his return has been pre-
vented by some unforeseen or controll-
ing exigency. beyond his power to fore
see" is allowed by the Secretary to be
accepted as the third extenuating cir
cumstance. This loophole is provided
primarily for naturalized citizens who
have visited their native lands. but
whose return to America has been pre-
vented by poverty. A large number
Of these are civil war pensioners. Sec
rotary Root has instructed our diplo-
matte and consular officers that spe-
cific facts given under oath will be re-
quired in all of these cases. and that
mere assertions will not suffice. Such
af1davits must be made in duplicate,
one copy to be filed in the citizenship
bureau and the other at our foreign
post where presented.
No time limit for native Americans
living abroad Is prescribed in the
new law, although they, as we'll as
naturalized Americans, will lose their
citizenship If they become naturaliZed
In or swear allegiance to a foreign
state. In their case the State Depart
ment can presume that they have ex-
patriated themselves IL, Furthermore,
they have taken all of their property
abroad and declared their purpose never
to return, thus permanently Withdraw
ing both themselves and their property
to where neither can be made to con-
tribute to the national necessities" But
in such cases the government has al
ways been lenient with native Amer
leans; has acted upon the theory that,
regardless Of how far the wa2derlust
may tempt son Of our soil, the natural
instinct of man to finally return to the
familiar scenes Of childhood will even
tually manifest itself.
That no American shall be allowed
to expatriate himself while this coun-
try Is at war is specific provision Of
the new law.
Census Of Yankees Abroad.
A complete catalogue of bona fide
Americans, native and naturalized, who
though living abroad. are entitled to the
protection of the United States, will be
maintained by the citizenship bureau. A
new form Of register Is being furnished
to each American consul who will ask
every Yankee citizen residing In his dis
trict to wfite his name, date and place
Of birth, his last residence in the United
States, the date of his arrival in the con-
sular district, his present place of resi-
dence, the reasons for his being ther,
the names, birthplaces and residences of
his wife and children: also the proof of
his American citizenship. To identify him
with the authorities of the place where he
is living the citizen who thus registers
may obtain from the consul an of1cial
certificate of registration" containing all
of the information entered upon the reg